Post by : Meena Ariff

Bollywood actor Emraan Hashmi will star opposite Yami Gautam in Haq, a courtroom drama that draws on the Mohd Ahmed Khan v Shah Bano Begum episode. Directed by Subhash Kapoor, the film explores one of modern India’s most contested legal moments, and Hashmi has spoken about the filmmakers' goals, the challenges of dramatizing a sensitive episode, and the risk of being pulled into identity politics. He insisted the production seeks to reconstruct events as they happened instead of advocating any political or religious viewpoint.

Haq takes its inspiration from the 1985 Supreme Court judgment in the Shah Bano case, a turning point in debates over maintenance rights, personal law and secular statutes. Shah Bano Begum, then 62, had sued for maintenance under Section 125 of the Criminal Procedure Code, a ruling that triggered sharp political and religious pushback and subsequent legislative responses. The film attempts to revisit the legal and human conflicts that reshaped conversations about gender justice and the relationship between faith and state law.

Asked whether he worried the film would embroil him in identity politics, Hashmi said the team’s intention is transparent and neutral. He noted that the filmmakers are not endorsing a narrative or condemning those involved, but rather presenting how events unfolded and leaving interpretation to viewers. The emphasis, he said, is on clear, objective storytelling without sensationalism or moralising.

Hashmi acknowledged the inherent risks of tackling such material. Films grounded in real social or political disputes often draw scrutiny, particularly in a fast-moving digital environment. Yet he expressed confidence in today’s audiences, asserting they can tell sincere storytelling apart from propaganda. According to him, viewers are increasingly receptive to layered narratives that refuse to simplify complex histories.

Since the trailer’s release, Haq has generated largely positive online feedback. Hashmi said most responses praised the film’s measured tone and realistic depiction, with few accusations of opportunism or politicisation. He interprets this reaction as a sign that audiences appreciate cinema that raises questions without prescribing answers.

Yami Gautam, who has been noted for performances in projects like Article 370 and Lost, plays a significant role in Haq, reportedly embodying the legal and rights-driven side of the story. Director Subhash Kapoor, known for courtroom dramas such as Jolly LLB, brings his experience to bear in keeping the narrative anchored in legal detail and realism.

The release of Haq comes amid ongoing conversations about personal laws, gender equality and religious reform. By revisiting the Shah Bano matter on screen, the film aims to prompt reflection on how far the country has progressed since 1985 and what conversations remain unresolved. Although the makers maintain they are not taking a moral stance, the subject naturally invites debate about the balance between constitutional principles and faith-based practices.

With Haq, Emraan Hashmi and Yami Gautam step into a project where cinema meets civic conversation. Their collaboration seeks to examine a defining legal dispute through a restrained, human-centred lens, trusting audiences to weigh the issues and draw their own conclusions.

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