Akbar Khan’s Taj Mahal film grabs world attention
The world gala premiere of the film ‘Taj Mahal: An Eternal Love Story’, produced and directed by Akbar Khan, unfolds this week in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, in a moment widely described as a rare and poetic convergence of cinema, diplomacy and cultural destiny.
The premiere will be graced by the Prime Minister of Malaysia, Anwar Ibrahim, along with members of the Cabinet, ambassadors and high commissioners representing several nations. The Malaysian Prime Minister, who has previously viewed the film, returns once again, this time in the presence of an international diplomatic audience, underscoring the growing global resonance of a story rooted in love, sacrifice and human unity.
Malaysia becomes the historic starting point for the film’s first overseas release, ahead of its Valentine’s weekend commercial opening on February 13, 2026 across Malaysia and Indonesia. This milestone marks a defining chapter in the international journey of a film that has steadily evolved into a cultural bridge between nations.
The journey then leads to the premiere in Mumbai on February 18, 2026 at Jio World Drive Mall, where the film will be showcased by the BRICS Media Forum in association with The Times of Russia. This marks the first time a BRICS platform formally presents ‘Taj Mahal: An Eternal Love Story’. The occasion is accompanied by a BRICS cultural ambassadorship being conferred upon producer-director Akbar Khan in recognition of his contribution to cross-cultural storytelling and cultural diplomacy.
The official state visit of Narendra Modi to Malaysia on February 7, 2026 is unrelated to the film and remains a purely diplomatic engagement. However, the close timing of the global premiere of Taj Mahal: An Eternal Love Story devoted to love, peace and shared heritage, followed by a high-level bilateral visit between two friendly nations, creates a striking alignment of events.
This timing reflects the deeper cultural fabric connecting India and Malaysia, two vibrant, democratic, multilingual and multi-religious societies bound by longstanding historical ties and people-to-people relationships.
Speaking ahead of the premiere, Akbar Khan said, “I have always believed that cinema has the power to speak where politics cannot, to remind us of our shared humanity. It is deeply moving that this film begins its international journey from Malaysia, in an atmosphere of friendship, openness and cultural respect. If there is a message in this moment, it is that love and culture can travel across borders far more gently and far more powerfully than anything else.”
The world gala premiere is being attended by the film’s principal cast and international guests, with Kuala Lumpur serving as the springboard for a global rollout that will subsequently extend to Russia, Central Asia, the Middle East, Europe, China, Japan and Turkey, including dubbed versions for key international markets.
In Kuala Lumpur, ‘Taj Mahal: An Eternal Love Story’ does more than open on the red carpet. It opens a new chapter where cinema, culture and destiny meet on common ground.