TAJ MAHAL:
AN ETERNAL LOVE STORY

Year: 2005
USA & UK: Mashreq Communications
Cast: Zulfikar Syed, Sonya Jehan, Kabir Bedi, Manisha Koirala, Pooja Batra, Arbaaz Ali, Kim Sharma, Milind Gunaji, Vaquar Sheikh, Arbaaz Khan, Negar Khan
Director: Akbar Khan
Countries: India / Pakistan
Language: Hindi / Urdu
USA & UK: 168 mins
UK Certificate: 12A contains moderate violence
USA Release Date: 18 November 2005 (Limited Release)
UK Release Date: 18 November 2005


Synopsis

From the moment Prince Khurram set eyes on the lovely Arjumand, to when he became Emperor Shah Jahan, and she his muse - Mumtaz Mahal. From a battle for supremacy that saw brothers turn to bitter enemies, to the despair of an emperor - and the end of a golden era. The pristine marble walls tell tales of a family. The family is the royal family of the Moghuls - driven by an overpowering passion of love and hate. At the center of this drama are the young lovers, Prince Khurram, son of Emperor Jahangir and Arjumand, the niece of Empress Noor Jahan.

Amidst burning ambitions, a power struggle and a dark conspiracy, the budding romance of the two teenagers blossomed as Prince Khurram went on to ascend the throne as Emperor Shah Jahan. Their relationship lasted 19 long years, until 1631, when the Empress passed away giving birth to her fourteenth child. Deeply struck by this tragedy, Shah Jahan devoted 22 years to perpetuate her memory. When it was completed, the Taj Mahal became Mumtaz Mahal for him, and when his body was interred alongside hers, together they became the Taj Mahal.

Emperor Shah Jahan's son, Aurangzeb, went on to to ascend the throne by executing his eldest brother, and imprisoning his father. Thus ending a chapter on the glorious period of the great Moghuls.