Taj Hotel Attack Survivor Reflects on 26/11 While Reviewing Dhurandhar

A survivor of the 26/11 Taj Hotel terror attack has shared an emotional response to the blockbuster film Dhurandhar, saying the movie brought back painful and intense memories of the 2008 Mumbai attacks.

Rajita Bagga was staying at the Taj Hotel with her husband, Ajay Bagga, on the night of November 26, 2008. In a social media post, she recalled surviving the horrific attack and being rescued after nearly 14 hours of captivity.

“I was in the Taj Hotel on the night of 26/11 with my husband @Ajay_Bagga. We were fortunate to survive the heinous terrorist attack that night and were rescued alive after 14 hours,” she wrote on X.

The most bone chilling experience was when she heard the actual voice recordings of the 26/11 terrorists and their handlers in the movie.

She wrote, “Hearing what the handlers were instructing the terrorists to do—how brutal, inhuman, and disgusting it was—sent shivers through my body. To see the scene recreated from the other side, with the handlers celebrating every bomb going off and every person killed—if that doesn’t fill us with rage and a renewed commitment to national security, what else will?”

Reflecting on the lasting impact of the tragedy, she noted that even after 17 years, the memory remains vivid. “Seventeen years have passed, but the memory of what happened—and what could have happened to us—shook me to the core. Gut-wrenching and painful.”

She also wrote, “Huge credit to Dhurandhar and its makers, @AdityaDharFilms, for ensuring that an entire new generation understands what truly happened on 26/11 in just those 2–3 minutes.”

Film director Aditya Dhar responded to her, saying: “Your words remind us why this story had to be told. That moment was shaped to reflect the brutal truth. If it leaves a mark, it is to ensure we remember, stand united, and never allow such darkness to return. Thank you for surviving, for speaking, and for strengthening our collective resolve.”

The 26/11 attacks took place in 2008, targeting several high-profile locations across Mumbai, including Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CST), Taj Mahal Palace Hotel, Oberoi Trident Hotel, Nariman House (Chabad House)—a Jewish community center—Leopold Café, and the Cama Hospital area. The terrorist attack on Taj Mumbai claimed 166 lives.

Nine attackers were killed during the rescue operation. Ajmal Kasab, the only attacker captured alive, was tried in India and executed in 2012.

The Mumbai terror attacks remain one of the darkest chapters in India’s history—a haunting reminder of lives lost, resilience shown, and the unyielding need for national security and collective vigilance.