Bollywood’s upcoming film Haq, starring Emraan Hashmi and Yami Gautam, reignites debates on women’s maintenance rights, secularism, and Muslim personal law. Inspired by the historic Shah Bano case, it explores faith, justice, and gender equality in modern India.
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NEW DELHI: Bollywood actors Emraan Hashmi and Yami Gautam are set to headline Suparn S Verma’s upcoming film Haq, a hard-hitting legal and emotional drama inspired by the landmark 1985 Shah Bano case. The film dives deep into women’s rights, secularism, and the conflict between religious law and constitutional justice.
Produced by Vineet Jain, Vishal Gurnani, Juhi Parekh Mehta, and Harman Baweja, Haq will hit theatres on November 7, 2025.
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Haq draws inspiration from the real-life Mohd. The Ahmad Khan vs Shah Bano Begum case was a legal milestone that changed the course of Indian law and women’s rights. The 1985 Supreme Court judgment, which granted maintenance rights to Shah Bano, challenged the boundaries between religious law and constitutional justice.
The film mirrors that historic battle through its protagonists, Abbas (played by Emraan Hashmi) and Shah Bano (played by Yami Gautam). What begins as a loving marriage soon spirals into heartbreak when Abbas marries another woman and divorces Shah by uttering talaq three times. Refusing to bow down to injustice, Shah takes her fight to court, sparking a national conversation on faith, gender, and equality.
Emraan Hashmi on the Film’s Sensitivity
Emraan Hashmi, who plays the role of Abbas, shared that Haq is a film made with utmost care and balance. He said:
“I read the script of this film, I saw it from the perspective of a creative actor, but for the first time in my career, I had to see that there is a sensitivity regarding a community, regarding my community… What I have extrapolated from this film is that there is a very balanced point of view.”
The actor emphasized that the film does not malign any community.
“As a liberal Muslim, I can say that I had no problems with the viewpoint of the film. Because we are not maligning any community if we were, I wouldn’t have done this film. In my family, my son performs puja and also offers namaz. This is, my secular upbringing.”
Hashmi added that Haq is a story about humanity and justice, not about targeting faith.
“It’s a human story at its core. I hope audiences, including Muslims, see it for its emotional and social message. It’s about humanity above all else.”
Yami Gautam on Playing Shah Bano
For Yami Gautam, portraying Shah Bano is one of her most challenging and powerful roles to date. Speaking about why she accepted the part, she said:
“I go by instinct, and this story needed to be told. I’m drawn to stories that have power and purpose. This character portrays courage, truth, and resilience.”
Praising her co-star, she added:
“When I was told I’d be cast opposite Emraan, I couldn’t imagine anyone else in the role. He’s a brilliant actor and a thorough professional, respectful, secure, and inspiring to work with.”
Yami reportedly learned Arabic for the role to ensure authenticity, as her character quotes verses from the Quran in court.
Director Suparn Varma Clarifies!
Following a legal notice from Shah Bano’s daughter, Siddiqua Begum, who alleged the film used her mother’s story without consent, director Suparn Varma clarified that Haq is not a direct adaptation.
“Our legal teams are talking directly to theirs. Haq is not an adaptation of Bano’s case but a fictional work inspired by multiple cases,”
he told Mid-Day.
Varma, known for Ek Khiladi Ek Haseena, Acid Factory, and The Family Man 2, described Haq as an emotional and thought-provoking experience:
“Once the world sees the film, they will walk out with tears, love, and respect. Haq asks difficult questions about religion, women’s rights, and identity.”
The film’s musical journey continues to strike emotional chords with its latest track, “Dil Tod Gaya Tu”, sung and composed by Vishal Mishra. Following the success of Qubool, this heartbreak song deepens the emotional landscape of Haq.
“Dil Tod Gaya Tu carries the emotional weight of heartbreak in the most honest way,” said Emraan Hashmi.
Yami Gautam added, “It’s not just about heartbreak, it’s about everything that remains unsaid after love fades.”
Haq reopens conversations about gender equality, secularism, and personal law, themes that continue to resonate in modern India. The Shah Bano case, though decades old, remains a cornerstone in the fight for justice for Muslim women.
Emraan Hashmi summed it up best:
“Maybe the younger generation doesn’t know much about this case… This is a film where, when you step out of the theatre, you’ll find it is pro-women — we have raised the issue for their dignity and equality of rights.”
The Shah Bano Case: A Legal Landmark
The Shah Bano case (Mohd. Ahmad Khan vs. Shah Bano Begum) remains a cornerstone in India’s legal and social history. In 1978, 62-year-old Shah Bano, divorced under Islamic law, sought maintenance under Section 125 of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC).
In 1985, the Supreme Court ruled in her favor, stating that Section 125 applies to all citizens, regardless of religion. However, due to political pressure, the Rajiv Gandhi government later enacted the Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Divorce) Act, 1986, which overturned the ruling, sparking nationwide debates on gender equality and religious law.
Background:
Shah Bano Begum married lawyer Mohd. Ahmed Khan in 1932 and had five children. In 1975, at age 62, she was abandoned by her husband and denied maintenance. When she appealed for financial support under Section 125 of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC), her husband argued that under Muslim Personal Law, he was only required to provide for her during the iddat period (three months post-divorce).
Legal Issues:
The case raised several key questions:
- Does “wife” under Section 125 include a divorced Muslim woman?
- Can secular law override personal law in matters of maintenance?
- Is the CrPC applicable to all citizens regardless of religion?
Judgment:
In 1985, the Supreme Court, led by Chief Justice Y.V. Chandrachud, ruled in Shah Bano’s favour.
The court held that Section 125 CrPC applies to all citizens, regardless of religion, and that a Muslim husband’s duty to maintain his divorced wife extends beyond the iddat period if she cannot support herself. It also clarified that Mehar (dower) cannot substitute for lifelong maintenance.
Case Title:
Mohd. Ahmed Khan vs Shah Bano Begum and Ors [Shah Bano case]
Civil Appeal No. 7454 of 1981
Bench/Judges:
Chief Justice Y.V. Chandrachud, Justice D.A. Desai, Justice O. Chinnappa Reddy, Justice R.S. Pathak and Justice M. Hameedullah Beg
Maintenance of Muslim Women
Meaning of Maintenance (Nafqah)
The term Nafqah refers to what a man spends on his dependents, including food, clothing, housing, and other essentials. The concept exists to ensure that individuals who cannot support themselves — such as wives, children, or parents — are provided for.
In marriage, it is the husband’s legal and moral duty to maintain his wife and provide her with a dignified life. This duty continues even after divorce if the wife cannot maintain herself. Maintenance may also extend to children, parents, grandparents, and other blood relatives, depending on financial capability.
Persons Entitled to Maintenance
- Wife
- Children (legitimate or illegitimate, minor or dependent)
- Parents and grandparents
- Other blood relatives (if financially dependent)
Maintenance of Wife
Under Muslim law, the husband is obligated to maintain his wife from the time she attains puberty (around 15 years). He must support her in all circumstances, whether rich or poor, healthy or ill, and even after divorce, during the iddat period (three menstrual cycles or lunar months).
However, a wife loses her right to maintenance if:
- The marriage is void or irregular.
- She refuses to live with her husband without a valid reason.
- She disobeys reasonable orders or is imprisoned.
- She is below 15 years of age (pre-puberty marriage).
Under Shia law, a muta (temporary) wife is not entitled to maintenance.
Despite these exceptions, a wife can still claim maintenance if the husband is cruel, keeps a concubine, or remarries without consent.
Quantum of Maintenance
There is no fixed amount for maintenance. Courts decide it based on the financial condition and social status of both spouses.
In addition, a wife may receive contractual allowances like Kharch-e-Pandan or Meva-Kohri, if agreed upon in a prenuptial contract.
Maintenance of the Divorced Wife
Under traditional Muslim law, a divorced woman is entitled to maintenance only during the iddat period. After that, the husband’s obligation ends, even if the woman is unable to sustain herself.
This rule, especially under the Hanafi school, left many divorced women without financial support.
Section 125 of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC)
Section 125 CrPC is a secular law that overrides personal laws. It ensures that a divorced wife of any religion who cannot maintain herself can claim maintenance beyond the iddat period, until she remarries.
It also grants maintenance to:
- Legitimate or illegitimate minor children.
- Dependent adult children with disabilities.
- Parents are unable to maintain themselves.
Courts can also award interim maintenance and litigation expenses within 60 days of notice.
This section created a conflict between personal law and secular law, which was famously addressed by the Supreme Court in the Shah Bano case, reaffirming that Section 125 applies to all citizens, including Muslims.
Legal Controversy Around the Film
Recently, Siddiqua Begum, daughter of the late Shah Bano, sent a legal notice to the Haq filmmakers, alleging that her mother’s story was used without family consent. Her lawyer demanded that the release be halted until the family reviews the script.
In response, director Suparn Verma clarified that Haq is a fictional work inspired by multiple real cases, not a biographical retelling.
Cast and Crew
- Directed by: Suparn S Verma
- Starring: Yami Gautam, Emraan Hashmi, Sheeba Chaddha, Vartika Singh, Danish Husain, Aseem Hattangady
- Produced by: Junglee Pictures, Baweja Studios, and Insomnia Films
- Music by: Vishal Mishra
- Written by: Reshu Nath and Suparn S Verma
- Release Date: November 7, 2025
- Genre: Legal Drama / Social Thriller
Conclusion
With Haq, Bollywood revisits one of India’s most pivotal debates, between personal faith and constitutional justice. Through Emraan Hashmi’s layered performance and Yami Gautam’s emotional power, the film promises to ignite reflection and conversation.
Whether viewed as a courtroom drama or a story of female empowerment, Haq is poised to be one of 2025’s most talked-about films, a bold reminder that justice, equality, and faith continue to intersect in the most complex ways.