What Is The Real Story Behind The Film, 'Haq' Starring Emraan Hashmi And Yami Gautam? Let's Find Out

Emraan Hashmi is one of the most popular actors in the Bollywood film industry. He is best known for portraying bold scenes in movies such as Aashiq Banaya Apne, Murder, and Murder 2, among others. On the other hand, Yami Gautam rose to fame with the movie, Vicky Donor. She also earned a lot of praise for the movie, Uri: The Surgical Strike. According to the latest reports, Emraan Hashmi and Yami Gautam are coming together for the first time and will portray an on-screen couple in the upcoming courtroom drama, Haq.

The film, directed by Suparn S. Varma, is scheduled to hit the big screens on November 7, 2025. Recently, the teaser of the film has surfaced online. Initially, the teaser seemed to feature a love story that had its own personal struggles, but later it shifted into a fierce courtroom battle. However, did you know that the movie is inspired by a real-life story? Yes, you read it right. So, without further ado, let’s jump in to know more about the background story of the movie.

Is Haq inspired by the controversial Shah Bano case in '80s?

Suparn S. Varma’s directorial, Haq, is inspired by the real-life story of Shah Bano, a Muslim woman who went to the Supreme Court in the late '70s to seek justice after her husband and a well-known advocate from Indore, Mohammed Ahmad Khan, abandoned her and their children. For the unversed, the duo got married in 1932 and had five children, three sons and two daughters. Her case, Mohd. Ahmed Khan vs. Shah Bano Begum, became one of the most talked-about legal battles in India, and is commonly known as the Shah Bano case.

In the film, Yami Gautam will play the role of Shah Bano, and her character's name is 'Shazia Bano', while Emraan will be portraying a dual role of her husband, 'Abbas' and the rival lawyer in the court. The story will not only focus on her personal struggles but will also highlight a Muslim woman’s fight for equal rights in India and the battle against the existing Muslim personal law.

The courtroom drama is a fictionalised version of the case, based on Jigna Vora’s book Bano: Bharat ki Beti, while also staying true to its essence. While Emraan Hashmi and Yami Gautam starrer Haq aimed to retell a controversial historic case, it also raised thought-provoking questions like shouldn’t justice be equal for everyone, and should India have a Uniform Civil Code (UCC) to ensure equal rights across all communities, which is still prevalent even today.

What happens in the teaser of Emraan Hashmi and Yami Gautam's Haq?

The teaser of Suparn S Varma’s directorial, Haq, began just like a love story, showing 'Shazia Bano' (played by Yami Gautam) and her husband, 'Abbas' (played by Emraan Hashmi). Initially, it appeared to be a personal conflict between a wife and her husband. But soon, their private tussle was dragged into the courtroom. It evolved into something much bigger, a fierce courtroom battle that raised questions about justice and equality. As the personal fight between a couple moved to the court, the case highlighted issues that went beyond their marriage.

It touched upon issues of faith, personal identity, individual beliefs, and the idea of liberalism. 'Shazia's' demand for justice sparked a discussion that involved not just the Muslim couple but the entire Islamic society. The teaser revealed how this legal conflict was ultimately linked to Article 44 of the Indian Constitution, which pertains to the Uniform Civil Code (UCC). This law aimed to ensure equal rights for all citizens, regardless of religion. The teaser made it clear that Haq is more than just a story about 'Shazia' and 'Abbas', it’s about getting equal rights.

More about the Shah Bano case

The 1985 Shah Bano case was one of the most important legal battles in India’s history. It raised many questions about the role of a secular country like India, when personal and religious laws clash with an individual’s rights. The case highlighted how the religious rules and women’s rights often overlap and create major conflicts. It also sparked debates on whether Muslim personal law needed any reforms to protect women more fairly and be treated equally. Shah Bano filed a petition in a court in April 1978 in Indore, asking for financial support (alimony) from her husband, Mohammed Ahmad Khan, a lawyer who had divorced her.

They got married in 1932 and had five children. Shah Bano’s demand was based on Section 125 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, which says that a man must support his wife during the period of marriage and after divorce if she cannot sustain on her own financially. However, Md. Ahmad Khan argued that under the Muslim personal law, he only had to provide support during the iddat period. Iddat is usually a period of three months, which a woman must maintain after the demise of her husband or a separation before she can remarry.

What are your thoughts on the film, Haq's background story? Let us know.

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