Emraan Hashmi popular for his performances in films like ‘Murder’, ‘Jannat’, ‘Hamari Adhuri Kahani’, is now stepping into the shoes of Mohd Ahmed Khan in a story inspired by one of India’s most talked-about legal battles; the 1985 Shah Bano case.
Speaking to ANI, Emraan revealed that the film is a careful exploration of the delicate balance between personal faith and constitutional law. “Maybe the younger generation doesn’t know much about this case,” he said. “The film is inspired by the Shah Bano case, where Ahmed Khan divorced Shah Bano, and she fought for her dignity and rightful maintenance through the courts: the Sessions Court, the High Court, and the Supreme Court.”
Shah Bano’s fight became a landmark moment in Indian legal history. She famously said, “Mai Musalman hu. Hindustani aurat hu pehle.” She asserted her right to maintenance under secular and constitutional law beyond the scope of Muslim personal law.
Emraan was quick to clarify that ‘HAQ’ is not about judging or maligning any community. “This is a film where, when you step out of the theatre, you will see it’s pro-women,” he said. “It raises issues of dignity and equality of rights. But we’ve also shown the perspectives of Ahmed and Abbas, shaped by their environment and upbringing. We’re not pointing fingers. We are just presenting the story in a balanced way. How the audience interprets it is up to them.”
For Emraan, approaching the story required sensitivity and reflection. “For the first time in my career, I had to look at a story with a consciousness about my own community. I had to analyse it in a different way. The film maintains a balanced point of view,” he shared. He emphasized that at no point did the film aim to criticize a religion or community. “As a liberal Muslim, I personally had no issues with the film’s viewpoint. If it had been about maligning anyone, I wouldn’t have done it. My own life reflects secular values. I married Parveen who is Hindu, and my family observes both puja and namaz. This film resonates with that sensibility.”
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“It’s not just for the Muslim community. Women should see it because it’s about their voice, their dignity, and their rights. But men will also find value in it,” Emraan explained. “It reflects biases in a patriarchal society, where a man’s actions can impact a woman’s life and dignity. This film makes you introspect on that.”
The film pairs Emraan with Yami Gautam, who plays Shah Bano Begum. The supporting cast has Vartika Singh, Danish Husain, Sheeba Chadha and Aseem Hattangady.
The Shah Bano case itself is a landmark in Indian history. In 1978, Shah Bano, then 62, petitioned the Indore court for maintenance after her affluent husband Mohd Ahmed Khan divorced her. They were married for five decades and she had raised five children. Despite that, she had to fight through multiple courts to claim her rightful support.
The Supreme Court ruled in her favour in 1985 granting her maintenance under Section 125 of the Criminal Procedure Code. However, the verdict stirred national debate. And a year later, the Rajiv Gandhi government passed legislation overturning the ruling sparking controversy and discussion that continues to this day.