The Taj Story Budget vs. Box Office ROI: A Detailed Report

Mumbai, December 03, 2025: The much-discussed movie The Taj Story has now been in theaters for over a month. Released on October 31, 2025, the film came with a lot of noise. Some of it was about the history it claimed to show, and some about the courtroom drama format. Now that the dust has settled, it is time to look at the cold, hard numbers. As we stand here on December 3, 2025, the picture is clearer. Did the controversy translate into cash? Did Paresh Rawal’s solid acting save the day? Or did the budget weigh it down?

In this report, we will dive deep into the box office journey of The Taj Story. We will look at the daily and weekly collections. We will analyze the budget estimates. Most importantly, we will calculate the Return on Investment (ROI) to see if this project was a success or a failure for its investors. We will keep the language simple and the analysis sharp.

---

The Taj Story Buzz and The Release

The Taj Story was not a typical Bollywood entertainer. It did not have big action scenes or romantic songs in foreign locations. It was a serious drama. The film focused on a legal battle regarding the history of the Taj Mahal. Directed by Tushar Amrish Goel, the movie relied heavily on dialogue and performance.

The lead actor, Paresh Rawal, is known for his powerful acting. His presence gave the film credibility. The supporting cast, including Zakir Hussain and Amruta Khanvilkar, added weight to the drama. However, the subject was risky. Historical films often face trouble, and this one was no different. There were debates on social media before the release. This created a “buzz” or hype. Usually, controversy helps in getting a good opening day. But for The Taj Story, the opening was modest.

The film was released on approximately 1000 to 1200 screens. This is a decent release size for a content-driven film. The target audience was mature adults in city multiplexes. The mass centers in smaller towns were not the main target.

The Taj Story Detailed Box Office Collection Breakdown

Let us look at how the movie performed week by week. The numbers tell the real story of its acceptance by the public.

Table

Here is the table detailing the box office performance of The Taj Story:

Day / Period	Collection (Net in ₹)	Notes
Day 1 (Friday, Oct 31)	₹0.90 Cr – ₹1.00 Cr	The film saw a drop, but was not a “washout”.
Day 2 (Saturday)	₹1.60 Cr	Jump in collections due to word of mouth,.
Day 3 (Sunday)	₹2.10 Cr	Peak of the opening weekend.
Days 4–7 (Mon–Thu)	~₹5.40 Cr – ₹6.30 Cr*	Weekdays were steady but on the lower side.
Week 1 Total	₹10.10 Cr – ₹11.00 Cr	Total for the first 7 days.
Week 2 Total	₹6.50 Cr – ₹7.30 Cr	Shows are limited to prime time in big cities.
Week 3 Total	~₹1.80 Cr	Shows limited to prime time in big cities.
Week 4 Total	~₹0.40 Cr	Collection slowed to a trickle.
Total Lifetime Collection	~₹20.25 Cr	Jump in collections due to word of mouth.

1. The Opening Week (Days 1-7)

The movie opened on a Friday with collections of around ₹0.90 Crore to ₹1.00 Crore. This was a slow start. A film with Paresh Rawal was expected to open at least above ₹2 Crore. However, the reviews were mixed. Some liked the drama, others found it too long.

On Saturday and Sunday, the collections jumped. This is a good sign for small films. The word of mouth helped slightly.

• Saturday: ₹1.60 Crore
• Sunday: ₹2.10 Crore

By the end of the first weekend, the film had collected nearly ₹4.60 Crore to ₹5.00 Crore. The weekdays (Monday to Thursday) held steady but on the lower side. The film did not crash, which was a saving grace.

• Total Week 1 Collection: Approximately ₹10.10 Crore to ₹11.00 Crore.

2. The Second Week Struggle

The second week is crucial. This is when big drops happen. The Taj Story faced competition from new releases. However, it retained its core audience. The drop was there, but it was not a complete washout.

• Week 2 Collection: Approximately ₹6.50 Crore to ₹7.30 Crore.
• Total after 2 Weeks: ₹17.40 Crore.

3. The Long Tail (Weeks 3 and 4)

By the third week, the screen count had reduced significantly. The shows were limited to prime time in big cities. The collection slowed down to a trickle.

• Week 3 Collection: ~₹1.80 Crore.
• Week 4 Collection: ~₹0.40 Crore.

Grand Total Collection (India Net): As of today, December 3, 2025, the total India Net Collection stands at approximately ₹20.25 Crore. The Gross collection (including taxes) would be around ₹24.00 Crore.

---

The Budget Dilemma: Small or Medium?

This is where the analysis gets tricky. In the film industry, the “Budget” is the most important number to decide a hit or a flop. For The Taj Story, there are two different stories floating in the trade circles.

Scenario A: The “Official” Modest Budget

Some sources close to the production claim that the film was made on a very tight budget. They suggest the Cost of Production (COP) was only ₹7 Crore to ₹8 Crore. If we add Print and Advertising (P&A) costs of about ₹4 Crore, the total landed cost would be around ₹12 Crore.

Scenario B: The “Trade” Estimate

On the other hand, many trade experts believe a period drama with a star like Paresh Rawal cannot be made so cheaply. Courtroom sets, costumes, and fees for a veteran actor add up. The trade estimate puts the budget much higher.

• Production Cost: ~₹18 Crore.
• P&A Cost: ~₹7 Crore.
• Total Budget: ₹25 Crore.

Why is there a difference? Sometimes, actors take a profit share instead of a full fee upfront. This lowers the initial budget. Sometimes, the shoot is wrapped up very quickly to save money. We will analyze the ROI based on both these numbers.

---

The Taj Story ROI Analysis: Hit, Flop, or Average?

The Return on Investment (ROI) is calculated based on the distributor’s share. Usually, the producer gets about 45% to 50% of the Net Box Office Collection.

Total Net Collection: ₹20.25 Crore. Approximate Producer Share (from Theatrical): ₹9.00 Crore to ₹10.00 Crore.

Now, let’s add non-theatrical revenue. This includes Digital Rights (OTT), Satellite Rights (TV), and Music Rights.

• OTT Rights: For a film like this, OTT platforms pay a decent amount. Estimated: ₹15 Crore.
• Satellite & Music: Estimated: ₹5 Crore.
• Total Non-Theatrical Revenue: ~₹20 Crore.

Total Revenue for Producers (Theatrical Share + Non-Theatrical): ₹10 Cr + ₹20 Cr = ₹30 Crore.

Verdict Under Scenario A (Budget ₹12 Crore)

• Total Cost: ₹12 Crore.
• Total Revenue: ₹30 Crore.
• Profit: ₹18 Crore.
• ROI %: 150% Profit.
• Result: Super Hit.

Verdict Under Scenario B (Budget ₹25 Crore)

• Total Cost: ₹25 Crore.
• Total Revenue: ₹30 Crore.
• Profit: ₹5 Crore.
• ROI %: 20% Profit.
• Result: Average / Plus.

The Theatrical Reality

While the total revenue looks good due to OTT, we at Boxofficewala focus heavily on Theatrical Verdicts. A movie must recover its cost from theaters to be called a true box office hit.

• If the budget is ₹25 Crore, and the theatrical share is only ₹10 Crore, the film lost money for the theatrical distributors. It is a Theatrical Flop.
• If the budget is ₹8 Crore, the theatrical share of ₹10 Crore covers the cost. It is a Theatrical Hit.

Given the scale of the movie and the marketing visibility, the budget is likely closer to the ₹20-25 Crore mark than the ₹8 Crore mark. Therefore, purely on box office numbers, the film has struggled to break even theatrically.

---

What Does This Mean for the Actors and Director?

The box office numbers always impact the career graph of the talent involved.

1. Paresh Rawal

Paresh Rawal is a legend. A box office fluctuation does not hurt his reputation as an actor. However, as a “solo lead,” his draw is tested here. The opening of ₹1 Crore shows that he shines brightest in an ensemble (like Hera Pheri) or strong content films (like OMG). This movie shows he still has pull, but the content needs to be more commercially engaging. He remains a safe bet for producers because he keeps the budget in check and ensures good acting.

2. Tushar Amrish Goel (Director)

For the director, Tushar Amrish Goel, crossing the ₹20 Crore mark is a psychological win. Many small films struggle to cross even ₹5 Crore these days. By reaching ₹20 Crore, he has shown he can hold an audience. However, the pacing of the film was criticized. For his next movie, he will need to work on a tighter script to ensure better ROI. He has proven he can handle controversial subjects, which is a skill in itself.

3. The Supporting Cast

Actors like Amruta Khanvilkar and Zakir Hussain benefit from being part of a project that was discussed nationwide. Even if the movie is an “Average” grosser, their visibility has increased. For them, it is a positive outcome.

---

Opinion

So, what is the final word? The Taj Story is a classic case of “Saved by Non-Theatricals”.

If we look only at the ticket counters, the movie did not set the cash registers ringing loudly. An opening of under ₹1 Crore is weak for a film with such a catchy title and star cast. The audience today wants entertainment, even in serious dramas. The film felt a bit too much like a history lesson for the common man.

However, the film did not crash. It crawled its way to ₹20 Crore. This shows there is a section of the audience that still values dialogue-heavy cinema.

Our take is simple: The movie is a Theatrical Underperformer but a Commercial Safe Venture. The producers will likely make money thanks to digital rights, but the theater owners did not make a fortune. It is not a disaster, but it is not the blockbuster the title might have suggested. It is a strict one-time watch that found its safe harbor on OTT platforms rather than in cinema halls.

Final Verdict: Below Average (Theatrical) / Profitable (Overall)

---

Key Takeaways Table

Metric	by BoxOfficeWala
Release Date	October 31, 2025
Opening Day	₹0.90 Cr – ₹1.00 Cr
Lifetime Collection (Net)	~₹20.25 Cr
Estimated Budget	₹20 Cr – ₹25 Cr (Trade View)
Theatrical Verdict	Below Average / Flop
Overall Verdict	Profitable (due to OTT/Satellite)

Disclaimer: The box office data is compiled from various independent sources and trade estimates. Actual figures may vary.