November 7, 2025—In a development that has sent tremors through the labyrinthine lanes of Bollywood and the hallowed halls of historical scholarship, Paresh Rawal’s ambitious historical epic The Taj Story, slated for a Republic Day 2026 release, has plunged into a contentious court battle over its controversial claim that the iconic Taj Mahal was constructed atop a pre-existing Hindu temple, a narrative thread that has ignited a firestorm of legal, cultural, and political recriminations.