“The Taj Story” Review: Paresh Rawal Shines in a Bold but Uneven Historical Drama
Paresh Rawal anchors The Taj Story with intensity and conviction, but the film’s bold historical vision struggles to balance emotion and controversy.
Swati Dubey 
Aditya Jha’s The Taj Story takes on the bold task of reimagining the legend behind the Taj Mahal. Starring Paresh Rawal as historian Vishnu Das, the film explores how stories of love and history can change depending on who tells them. It’s visually breathtaking but struggles to stay emotionally consistent.
The first half is engaging, filled with curiosity and tension as Vishnu questions the accepted version of the monument’s past. But as the story progresses, long debates and heavy dialogues slow the pace. Paresh Rawal’s performance holds everything together — calm, expressive, and deeply convincing. Amruta Khanvilkar and Namit Das do well in smaller roles, while Zakir Hussain adds quiet strength.
Cinematography is the film’s strongest point. The Taj Mahal is captured beautifully — in soft light, reflections, and mist — making it feel almost alive. The background score by Sandesh Shandilya enhances the emotion without overdoing it.
In the end, The Taj Story is more thought-provoking than entertaining. It dares to question what we believe about history, even if its storytelling feels uneven. A visually rich film carried by a powerful performance from Paresh Rawal.
