'History Lessons With 21st Century Mix', Naseerudin's Taj-Divided By Blood Draws Mixed Response

Taj: Divided by Blood, starring Naseeruddin Shah, Aditi Rao Hydari, Aashim Gulati, Taha Shah, Shubham Kumar Mehra, Sandhya Mridul, Zarina Wahab, Sauraseni Maitra, and Rahul Bose was recently released. The television show, which is centred on the Mughal Empire's dominion in India, stars Naseeruddin as Akbar, Aditi Rao as Anarkali, and Aashim Gulati as Salim.

The majority of online users have praised the series as a masterpiece and have dubbed it riveting and daring in their initial reviews, however others have also voiced their disapproval.

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One wrote, ¡°This series is the epitome of 'OMG I adore all these actors but what on earth are they doing in here'. Rahul Bose, Sandhya Mridul, Zarina Wahab, Aditi Rao Hydari & all the 3 princes? ... the casting director should get a refund from whoever trained them. #TAJDividedByBlood¡±

Another added, ¡°#TAJDividedByBlood brilliant series and a must watch. Many unknown secrets of Mughal Dynasty revealed exceptional acting cast and music beautiful DoP. Watch it on #ZEE5 waiting for season 2 It should grab some awards I believe¡±

This series is the epitome of 'OMG I adore all these actors but what on earth are they doing in here'. Rahul Bose, Sandhya Mridul, Zarina Wahab, Aditi Rao Hydari & all the 3 princes? ... the casting director should get a refund from whoever trained them. #TAJDividedByBlood pic.twitter.com/VRBbdi3bne

¡ª Tusshar Sasi (@FilmySasi) March 5, 2023

#TAJDividedByBlood brilliant series and a must watch. Many unknown secrets of Mughal Dynasty revealed exceptional acting cast and music beautiful DoP. Watch it on #ZEE5 waiting for season 2
It should grab some awards I believe

¡ª | Ram (@Ramkuma80133372) March 5, 2023

#taj #TAJDividedByBlood very well crafted #naseeruddinshah is fabulous a must watch, the other side of the book, brilliantly done ? @ZEE5India

¡ª Karankashyap (@_Angryfilmmaker) March 5, 2023

A recount of history lessons with 21st century mix #TAJDividedByBlood

¡ª Neha (@nehurockstar) March 5, 2023

had to hear 2 hours of terrible urdu from my father after ??#TajDividedByBlood

¡ª ?_(¥Ä)_/? (@ramenmokkogalle) March 4, 2023

Hum #TAJDividedByBlood dekh rahe hai for Aditi Rao Hyderi.
Usko dikhaate hi nahi.
Fuddu Naseeruddin ko dikhaate rehte. pic.twitter.com/xF8LlKpKMT

¡ª Dr Dev (@EyeKaDoctor) March 5, 2023

Taj Divided By Blood exposed the brutalities of the Mughal period, rife with sexual slavery and illegal property seizures under the rule of the self-proclaimed "Great" Akbar. A distressing revelation. #MughalAtrocities #TAJDividedByBlood #ZEE5

¡ª ADI BURMAN (@BurmanAdi) March 4, 2023

While watching Taj It was disheartening to learn about the cruel practices of the Mughal era, where sexual slavery and property invasions were rampant. This is what was happening under the so-called "Great" Akbar. #TajDividedByBlood

¡ª Jahazi (@Oye_Jahazi) March 4, 2023

Lol ? #TAJDividedByBlood they made as they want.

¡ª Syed Maheboob (@Maheboobsyed092) March 4, 2023

True, didn't have the patience to watch after the 3rd episode. Plus the casting is also worse except for Salim & Anarkali. #TAJDividedByBlood

¡ª Riju R. (@RC_Riju) March 4, 2023

#taj #TAJDividedByBlood very well crafted #naseeruddinshah is fabulous a must watch, the other side of the book, brilliantly done ? @ZEE5India

¡ª Karankashyap (@_Angryfilmmaker) March 5, 2023

#TAJDividedByBlood ? pic.twitter.com/u1gk4f5aLk

¡ª ????? (@Oye_akshay) March 5, 2023

#TAJDividedByBlood brilliant series and a must watch. Many unknown secrets of Mughal Dynasty revealed exceptional acting cast and music beautiful DoP. Watch it on #ZEE5 waiting for season 2
It should grab some awards I believe

¡ª | Ram (@Ramkuma80133372) March 5, 2023

The Mughal Empire's legacy may have been one of opulence and grandeur, but it came at a steep price. Akbar's reign was marked by barbarism and inhumanity, with atrocities committed on a massive scale. On the second episode of Taj & now I know that steep price. #TajDividedByBlood

¡ª ?????? ?? (@seriousfunnyguy) March 4, 2023

Kash #TAJ 6 saal pehle ayi hoti, puri history yaad raheti #TAJDividedByBlood

¡ª Soham (@Soham_ma) March 4, 2023

For the unversed, Shah recently talked about Mughals in an interview with Indian Express. He said, ¡°It amuses me, because it is so utterly ridiculous. I mean, people can¡¯t tell the difference between Akbar and a murderous invader like Nader Shah or Babar¡¯s great grandfather Taimur. These were people who came here to loot, the Mughals didn¡¯t come here to loot. They came here to make this their home and that¡¯s what they did. Who can deny their contribution?¡±

Also, the seasoned actor claimed in his conversation with The Quint that there are many more religious believers than non-believers. Faith is unquestionable. His acquaintances have the opinion that none of the residents of his village are deserving of living here.

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Also read: 'We Would Laugh It Off', Sandhya Mridul On Doing Romantic Scenes With Naseeruddin Shah In Taj

Cast:

Aashim Gulati as Prince Salim, Taha Shah as Prince Murad, Shubham Kumar Mehra as Prince Daniyal, Aditi Rao Hydari as Anarkali, Sandhya Mridul as Queen Jodha Bai, and seasoned actor Dharmendra as Sheikh Salim Christi are among the other cast members of Taj.

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In an exclusive conversation with Indiatimes, actress Sandhya Mridul spoke about working with Shah. She said, ¡°It was Naseeruddin Shah, how can the experience be? He makes everything easy. He has an amazing sense of humor and fortunately so do I, so we would laugh it off. So it actually was fine for me. There was no discomfort or anything. The relationship between Jodha and Akbar is beyond a lot of things. It's a very beautiful relationship. The only honest relationship that he had with any of his queens. Jodha is his confidant, friend and many things other than the queen and his wife. She is somebody he respects, somebody he confides in.¡±

Check out the trailer here:

You can stream Taj-Divided By Blood On Zee5.

(To read more such stories related to movies and shows released on OTTs, keep reading Indiatimes BINGE)