Emraan Hashmi says Haq revisits Shah Bano case without political framing

Bollywood actor Emraan Hashmi will feature opposite Yami Gautam in Haq, a courtroom drama rooted in the Mohd Ahmed Khan v. Shah Bano Begum episode. Directed by Subhash Kapoor, the film tackles one of India’s most charged legal chapters. In a recent conversation, Hashmi outlined the makers’ purpose, spoke about the complexity of the subject and addressed whether the project risks being pulled into identity politics. He insisted Haq aims to reconstruct events faithfully rather than push a partisan or faith-based line.

Haq draws on the landmark 1985 Supreme Court decision in the Shah Bano matter, when a 62-year-old Muslim woman who sought maintenance ignited a nationwide debate over women’s entitlements, religious law and secular governance. The court initially awarded alimony under Section 125 of the Criminal Procedure Code, a ruling that provoked political and religious backlash and later prompted legislative changes. The film intends to re-examine the legal, moral and emotional tensions at the heart of that dispute.

Asked about concerns over identity politics, Hashmi stressed the production’s neutral stance. He said the filmmakers are not campaigning for a particular viewpoint but are reconstructing how events unfolded so viewers can reach their own conclusions. The team’s stated objective is clarity and factual presentation, avoiding sensationalism or moral grandstanding.

Hashmi also acknowledged the hazards of tackling a subject with such social resonance. He noted that projects like this attract scrutiny, especially in an era when commentary spreads fast online. Still, he expressed faith in contemporary audiences’ ability to tell genuine storytelling apart from propaganda, and said viewers are increasingly open to layered, balanced portrayals.

Since the trailer dropped, Haq has drawn largely favourable responses, according to Hashmi. He said online feedback has highlighted the film’s realistic tone and measured treatment, with few complaints about timing or deliberate politicisation. That reception, he believes, signals public appetite for films that provoke thought without preaching.

Yami Gautam, who has handled legally and politically driven roles before, is reported to portray the case’s legal face, representing the fight for women’s rights and justice in the story. Director Subhash Kapoor, known for courtroom dramas such as Jolly LLB, brings experience in blending legal detail with human drama to Haq.

The film arrives while debates over personal law, gender parity and religious reform remain active in public discourse. By revisiting the Shah Bano episode on screen, Haq seeks to prompt discussion about the intersection of faith and constitutional rights. Although the team says it is not issuing moral judgments, the subject naturally invites reflection on how much has changed since 1985 and how much remains unsettled.

With Haq, Emraan Hashmi and Yami Gautam enter a space where legal history and social conscience overlap. The film aims to retell a pivotal judicial dispute with emotional clarity and factual balance, leaving final interpretations to the audience rather than prescribing them.