The world premiere of the Akbar Khan-produced and directed film “Taj Mahal: An Eternal Love Story” takes place today, February 6, 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 attended by Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim as well as cabinet members, ambassadors and high commissioners from several nations. The Malaysian Prime Minister, who has previously seen the film, returns once again, this time in the presence of an international diplomatic audience, underscoring the growing global resonance of a story based on love, sacrifice and human unity.
Malaysia becomes the historic starting point for the film’s first overseas release before the commercial launches in Malaysia and Indonesia on Valentine’s weekend on February 13, 2026. This milestone marks a crucial chapter in the international journey of a film that has steadily become a cultural bridge between nations.
The journey then leads to the premiere on February 18, 2026 in Mumbai at Jio World Drive Mall, where the film will be presented by BRICS Media Forum in collaboration with The Times of Russia. This is the first time that a BRICS platform will officially present “Taj Mahal: An Eternal Love Story”. The event will be accompanied by the awarding of a BRICS Cultural Ambassador to producer and director Akbar Khan in recognition of his contribution to intercultural storytelling and cultural diplomacy.
Narendra Modi’s official state visit to Malaysia on February 7, 2026 is unrelated to the film and remains a purely diplomatic engagement. However, the close timing of the world premiere of “Taj Mahal: An Eternal Love Story,” which revolves around love, peace and shared heritage, followed by a high-level bilateral visit by two friendly nations, ensures a remarkable coincidence of events.
This juncture reflects the deeper cultural fabric that binds India and Malaysia, two vibrant, democratic, multilingual and multireligious societies linked by long-standing historical ties and interpersonal relationships.
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 common 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 much more gently and much more powerfully than anything else.”
The film’s main actors and international guests will take part in the world premiere of the gala. Kuala Lumpur will serve as the starting point for a global rollout, which will then expand to Russia, Central Asia, the Middle East, Europe, China, Japan and Turkey, including synchronized versions for key international markets.
In Kuala Lumpur, “Taj Mahal: An Eternal Love Story” opens on more than just the red carpet. It opens a new chapter in which cinema, culture and fate meet on a common basis.
