DNA (August 10, 2016)

A legal notice has been sent to the makers of Wah Taj, starring Shreyas Talpade and Manjari Fadnis in the lead. To promote the film the makers had put up posters all across Agra saying, “Decision on Maharashtra’s Tukaram Case. Taj Mahal to be closed for the tourists from 23rd September, 2016 by the Honorable Court’s order.” The legal notice has been sent to the makers of the film Wah Taj by social activist Madan Mohan Sharma. Also, a case was been registered at a police station in the Capital against producer Abhinav Verma, director Ajit Sinha and actors Pawan Sharma, Shreyas and Manjari for creating a havoc in Agra and “spoiling the image of the country.” The police is investigating the matter. Shreyas says, “I got to know that there has been a legal notice sent to the makers of the film, but it was just a part of the movie promotions and marketing strategy, I don’t understand why is it taken to another level by blowing it up.”
-------------------
Makers of a long-stuck Shreyas Talpade-starrer sued after promotions surrounding the Taj Mahal go wrong
Sonali Joshi Pitale (MID-DAY; August 10, 2016)

After censor woes, the makers of a long-completed film, Wah Taj, have waded into fresh trouble with a group of Agra residents baying for their blood. Controversy erupted after the marketing team of the Shreyas Talpade and Manjari Phadnis-starrer decided to paste promotional posters across the tourist city, declaring that the Taj Mahal will be shut from September 23, coinciding with the film’s release. Irate locals have sent a legal notice for “maligning” the monument.

The film’s director, Ajit Sinha, said, “It [the poster] was my idea. There’s a scene where Shreyas claims that the Taj Mahal belongs to his forefathers; the court rules in his favour and asks authorities to keep the monument out of bounds for tourists. So, we decided to put up those pamphlets. We hadn’t imagined it would upset locals. I am now consulting with my legal team to decide on our next course of action.”

The film had earlier run into censor trouble as the hero is shown as Hindu whereas the Taj Mahal had been built by Muslim king, Shah Jahan. “The film was stuck for six months, and they asked me to approach the Film Certification Appellate Tribunal, which eventually cleared it,” adds the director.