October 28, 2025 : Bollywood is once again turning to a real-life courtroom drama for its next big offering. The upcoming feature film Haq, directed by Suparn S. Verma and starring Emraan Hashmi and Yami Gautam, is set to release on November 7, 2025. The makers have revealed that the movie is inspired by the landmark Supreme Court judgment in the 1985 Mohd. Ahmed Khan v. Shah Bano Begum case, which redefined women’s rights and maintenance laws in India.
In the real case, Shah Bano Begum, a 62-year-old Muslim woman, was divorced by her husband and sought maintenance under Section 125 of the Criminal Procedure Code. Her husband argued that Muslim personal law limited his obligation to the iddat period—three months after divorce. The Supreme Court, however, ruled in Shah Bano’s favour, declaring that a divorced Muslim woman is entitled to maintenance under the secular law of the land. The judgment became one of India’s most debated legal decisions, ultimately leading to the introduction of the Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Divorce) Act, 1986, and sparking nationwide debate over gender justice and religious personal laws.
According to the film’s teaser, Yami Gautam portrays “Shazia Bano,” a fictionalised version of Shah Bano who fights an intense legal battle for her rights after being abandoned by her husband, played by Emraan Hashmi. The teaser opens with a heated courtroom exchange, where the protagonist declares, “I am not just a Muslim woman but a Muslim woman of India, and I demand the same justice every woman deserves.” While the film takes creative liberties, the makers have confirmed it draws heavily from the principles and impact of the original Shah Bano case.
Director Suparn S. Verma, known for socially charged storytelling, has described Haq as “a story of courage and law coming together.” The film combines human emotion, religious identity and constitutional values in a courtroom narrative that reflects the conflict between personal faith and universal justice. Industry sources suggest that Yami Gautam’s performance is raw and emotional, while Emraan Hashmi’s portrayal of the conflicted husband adds depth to the theme.
However, even before its release, the film has encountered controversy. Shah Bano’s daughter, Siddiqua Begum, has sent a legal notice to the filmmakers and the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC), claiming that the movie uses her mother’s story without consent. The notice argues that the depiction violates privacy rights and amounts to unauthorised commercialisation of a real person’s life, citing the Supreme Court’s 2017 privacy judgment in Justice K.S. Puttaswamy v. Union of India. The legal heirs have demanded that the release and promotion of the film be halted until official permission is granted. The producers have not yet issued a public statement regarding the notice.
Despite the controversy, Haq continues to generate strong buzz for its powerful subject. Legal experts believe the movie’s release could reignite discussion about the need for a Uniform Civil Code and highlight how women’s rights evolved in India after the Shah Bano ruling. Critics are already calling it one of the most anticipated courtroom dramas of 2025, following the tradition of socially aware films that mix realism with cinematic intensity.
With a strong cast, a sensitive storyline, and a foundation built on a landmark case that changed Indian legal history, Haq seeks to balance entertainment with education. It aims to remind audiences that the fight for equality, dignity, and justice remains ongoing. Whether the film can strike that delicate balance between legal truth and dramatic license will be revealed when it reaches theatres in November.
Summary
Emraan Hashmi and Yami Gautam’s Haq is inspired by the 1985 Shah Bano Supreme Court case, portraying a woman’s legal battle for maintenance and equality amid faith, justice, and controversy.