The teaser for the upcoming courtroom drama "Haq," starring Emraan Hashmi and Yami Gautam Dhar, is out now, generating significant buzz. Inspired by the landmark Shah Bano case, the film promises a thought-provoking exploration of personal law, gender rights, and secularism in India.

Directed by Suparn Varma and produced by Junglee Pictures in association with Insomnia Films and Baweja Studios, "Haq" is slated for release on November 7, 2025. The film delves into the complexities of the Shah Bano case, a controversial maintenance lawsuit in India that reached the Supreme Court in 1985.

The Shah Bano case centered around Shah Bano Begum, a Muslim woman divorced by her husband, Mohammed Ahmed Khan, in 1978. She filed a petition seeking maintenance from him under Section 125 of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC). This section applies to all individuals regardless of their religion, caste, or creed and mandates maintenance for wives who cannot support themselves, even after divorce. Khan contested the claim, arguing that under Muslim Personal Law, his obligation to maintain his ex-wife extended only to the 'iddat' period, approximately three months after the divorce.

The Supreme Court ruled in favor of Shah Bano, affirming her right to maintenance beyond the iddat period. The court emphasized that personal laws should align with statutory provisions ensuring the welfare and protection of individuals and that Section 125 of the CrPC was designed to prevent destitution among women after divorce, irrespective of their religion. The verdict sparked widespread debate and protests, with some Muslims arguing that the judgment conflicted with Islamic law and infringed upon their religious personal laws.

The controversy surrounding the Shah Bano case led the government to enact the Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Divorce) Act in 1986. This law limited the husband's obligation to maintain his divorced wife to the iddat period, shifting the responsibility to her relatives or the Waqf Board. This act was seen by some as discriminatory, as it denied Muslim women the right to basic maintenance available to women of other religions under secular law.

In "Haq," Emraan Hashmi portrays a sharp but morally conflicted lawyer, reportedly inspired by Ahmed Khan, while Yami Gautam Dhar plays a resilient woman seeking justice, seemingly inspired by Shah Bano. The film's tagline, "Who will provide justice – community or law?" encapsulates the central conflict. The movie also features Sheeba Chaddha, Danish Hussain, and Aseem Hattangady in pivotal roles.

The film is expected to delve into the complexities of the real-life legal battle, examining themes of personal law, gender rights, and secularism. It promises to be a hard-hitting narrative that explores the social, religious, and judicial complexities surrounding the Shah Bano judgment and its aftermath. "Haq" aims to spark dialogue and challenge outdated ideologies, reminding audiences that the fight for one's rights often begins where law and life collide.