- The Shroud of Turin contains nearly 40% human DNA linked to Indian lineages according to recent analysis
- The linen may have originated from the Indus Valley region due to ancient trade routes with the Mediterranean
- The 2013 Bollywood film Race 2 features a heist plot involving the Shroud, inspiring viral internet jokes
For centuries, the Shroud of Turin has existed in that curious space between faith, science, and conspiracy. Believed by many to be the burial cloth of Jesus Christ, the 4.4-metre-long linen has been studied, debated, and even dismissed.
Now, it has found itself back in headlines for a reason no one quite saw coming: an Indian connection.
Recent DNA analysis, reported by New Scientist, suggests that nearly 40% of the human genetic material found on the cloth traces back to Indian lineages.
The study, led by Italian researcher Gianni Barcaccia and his team at the University of Padova, examined samples collected from the shroud as far back as 1978.
New DNA Analysis Suggests That Shroud Of Turin May Have Indian Origins https://t.co/Q95A5SHKCC pic.twitter.com/5A2x4Su5Fp
— NDTV (@ndtv) March 31, 2026
Their findings paint a complicated picture. Alongside human DNA, the cloth also carries traces of animal and fish species, such as Atlantic cod, and environmental residues accumulated over centuries. "Our findings highlight its preservation conditions and environmental interactions," the team wrote.
So yes, there is an Indian link. But it is far less dramatic than it sounds.
The Obvious Indian Connect
Researchers suggest that the linen or yarn used to weave the shroud may have originated from the Indus Valley region. Trade routes between ancient India and the Mediterranean were active, and it would not be unusual for textiles to travel across continents long before the cloth itself gained religious significance.
Another possibility is far simpler: human contact. Over centuries, the shroud has been handled by countless individuals, pilgrims, and clergy. Some of them could have been of Indian origin, leaving behind traces of DNA over time.
As the researchers themselves noted, "The Shroud came into contact with multiple individuals, thereby challenging the possibility of identifying the original DNA of the Shroud."
The Not-So-Obvious Bollywood Connect
But the internet, as always, had other ideas.
Within hours of the report going viral, some users on X stumbled upon a far more cinematic explanation, one that had nothing to do with ancient trade routes or genetic residue. Instead, they went straight to Bollywood, specifically the 2013 film Race 2.
Starring Saif Ali Khan and John Abraham, the Abbas-Mustan thriller revolved around high-stakes deception, double-crosses, and, crucially, a heist involving the Shroud of Turin itself.
In the film, Ranvir (Saif Ali Khan) orchestrates an elaborate plan to "steal" the sacred cloth from a church in Turin. The scheme is designed to bankrupt his rival, Armaan (John Abraham), who pours billions into acquiring what he believes is the real relic. Except, in classic Race fashion, nothing is what it seems.
Ranvir never actually steals the original. Instead, he creates chaos, stages a fake heist, and swaps the relic with a duplicate. The real Shroud, the film insists, remains untouched in the church because it is "too holy" to be traded in the black market.
One X user summed up the entire situation: "The Shroud of Turin may have Indian origins because Saif Ali Khan stole the original in Race 2 and replaced it with a fake one."
The Shroud of Turin may have Indian origins because Saif Ali Khan stole the original in Race 2 and replaced it with a fake one. https://t.co/NPzmmFvSWQ pic.twitter.com/KcxL0QdUUd
— r (@bekhayalime) April 1, 2026
And just like that, centuries of religious debate collided with Bollywood logic.
