Cinema can give voice to private struggles that become public moments, and Haq arrives as a film that leans into that power. Directed by Suparn S Varma, the film features Yami Gautam Dhar and Emraan Hashmi in principal roles and draws inspiration from the landmark Shah Bano Begum case of 1985.
Planned for release on November 7, 2025, Haq traces one woman’s private fight for dignity and support as it unfolds into a broader conversation about how law and faith intersect in everyday lives.
The screenplay revisits the legal turning point marked by Mohd. Ahmed Khan vs. Shah Bano Begum (1985), using it as a springboard to explore contemporary ideas about rights and equality.
In the film, Yami Gautam Dhar portrays Shazia Bano, who is left by her husband, enacted by Emraan Hashmi. Refusing to accept neglect, she seeks maintenance under Section 125 of the Indian Criminal Procedure Code, invoking a law intended to secure support for women after separation.
What begins as a private claim becomes emblematic: Shazia’s legal battle grows into a public debate, giving the film a human centre while examining the tension between religious practice and constitutional rights.
Director: Suparn S Varma
Lead Cast:
Yami Gautam Dhar as Shazia Bano
Emraan Hashmi as Adv. Mohd. Ahmed Khan
Producers: Junglee Pictures, Insomnia Films, and Baweja Studios
Language: Hindi
Runtime: Around 136 minutes
Release Date: November 7, 2025
The original Shah Bano judgment shifted public debate about women’s legal protections. Haq brings that history into vivid, contemporary terms so newer audiences can see its human stakes.
Shazia is written as determined rather than defeated. Her portrayal aims to show the quiet strength many women summon when faced with injustice.
The film frames the argument: when personal law and constitutional guarantees collide, whose voice should prevail? It invites viewers to weigh that question without easy answers.
Beyond the legal arguments, Haq relies on charged courtroom exchanges and intimate moments that seek to connect audiences to the people behind the headlines.
The plot opens with domestic rupture and follows Shazia as private grief becomes public action. The courtroom scenes function as a stage where personal histories, civic ideals and moral questions meet.
Teasers suggest bold visuals — a lone figure approaching the Supreme Court, sharp legal confrontations, and public demonstrations — all woven into a film that balances feeling with thought.
Even before audiences see it, Haq has encountered controversy. Siddiqua Begum Khan, daughter of Shah Bano, has petitioned the Madhya Pradesh High Court seeking a stay on the release, alleging the film misrepresents her mother and was made without family consent.
The dispute has sparked wider debate about where creative licence ends and personal sensitivity begins in dramatizing real lives.
Fresh Angle: The film blends religion, gender and jurisprudence in a way few mainstream Hindi films attempt.
Committed Performances: Both leads are tasked with conveying complex inner lives and public roles.
Relevant Themes: Issues of equality and justice remain urgent and global, lending the film a contemporary resonance.
Potential Cultural Reach: By connecting a historical case to present debates, the film aims to spark conversation beyond cinema halls.
It adapts a real legal turning point into a character-driven drama.
Expect emotionally charged courtroom scenes and thoughtful engagement with difficult questions.
It probes the balance between faith-based norms and equal protection under the law.
Most of all, it centres a woman whose personal fight reverberates as a public story.
Haq offers more than legal argument; it aims to portray the human cost and courage behind a courtroom headline.
As the film reaches audiences on November 7, 2025, it is likely to be discussed not only for its cinematic craft but for the questions it raises about justice, belief and social change.
This piece is intended for information and entertainment. Haq is a cinematic interpretation inspired by historical events and should not be read as a literal record of legal facts or precise biographies. Viewers should consider it a dramatized portrayal rather than a documentary accounting.
Nutritionist Deepsikha Jain recommends 1–2 tablespoons of flaxseeds—morning, before meals or as a sn
Dr. Rajiv Sood outlines five simple daily practices — activity, diet, stress care, sleep and check-u
Coconut water excels at fast rehydration after exercise; aloe vera juice supports digestion and skin
During a video call, 35-year-old Bisma Lalji's sudden back pain led to a Stage 4 breast cancer diagn
