Mumbai, Oct 29 : Bollywood actor Emraan Hashmi, known for films like Murder, Jannat, and Hamari Adhuri Kahani, is set to portray Mohd Ahmed Khan in HAQ a film inspired by one of India’s most debated legal cases, the 1985 Shah Bano case.
In a conversation with ANI, Emraan described HAQ as a sensitive portrayal of the complex intersection 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 from the Sessions Court to the Supreme Court.”
The Shah Bano case became a landmark moment in Indian legal history after Shah Bano, a 62-year-old woman, demanded maintenance from her husband under Section 125 of the Criminal Procedure Code. Though the Supreme Court ruled in her favour in 1985, the verdict was later overturned by the Rajiv Gandhi government, sparking a nationwide debate that continues to echo today.
Emraan clarified that HAQ does not aim to malign any community. “This is a film where, when you step out of the theatre, you’ll see it’s pro-women,” he explained. “It raises questions about dignity and equality of rights. But we’ve also shown Ahmed and Abbas’s perspectives, shaped by their environment and upbringing. We’re not judging anyone just presenting the story in a balanced way.”
He further said portraying such a role required deep reflection. “For the first time in my career, I had to approach a story with consciousness about my own community. The film maintains a balanced viewpoint,” Emraan said. “If it had been about targeting 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.”
Calling HAQ a film that speaks to everyone, Emraan added, “It’s not just for the Muslim community. Women should see it because it’s about their voice and rights, but men will also relate. It holds up a mirror to our patriarchal biases.”
The film stars Yami Gautam as Shah Bano Begum, with a supporting cast that includes Vartika Singh, Danish Husain, Sheeba Chadha, and Aseem Hattangady.