Haq Review: Emraan Hashmi and Yami Gautam Deliver a Sincere Film on Faith, Justice and Women’s Rights

Haq is inspired by one of India’s most significant legal battles, the ‘Mohd. Ahmed Khan v Shah Bano Begum’ case. It is a story of a woman’s fight to claim her right to dignity after being divorced through verbal triple talaq. Instead of turning it into a loud social lecture, the film plays out with quiet intensity, focusing on how a woman’s personal heartbreak becomes a historic courtroom struggle.

Haq Review: Discussion

Yami Gautam plays Shazia Bano, a woman who’s spent years building her home, while her husband, Abbas Khan (Emraan Hashmi), is a successful lawyer. One day, without giving Shazia any clue, Emraan marries someone else. One of the film’s most clever early metaphors, Abbas repeatedly purchases new cookers instead of repairing the old ones; this seemingly insignificant scene reveals his tendency to replace things that no longer provide comfort.

When Abbas takes a second wife without even informing Shazia, the makers don’t take a dramatic approach to show how her world is shattered in a whiff. It falls apart bit by bit. Shazia Bano continues to endure the daily humiliations until Abbas utters “talaq” three times, ending not just their marriage but the illusion of respect left within it. She fights not only for her rights, or ‘Haq’, but also for her children, whom Abbas has deprived of a financial safety net. What follows is Shazia’s long, exhausting legal fight, which highlights how some people in power misinterpret the Quran, especially regarding the topic of Triple Talaq.

Suparn Verma commendably avoids villainising the entire community while calling out the severely unfair practices of those in power against women. Every time Shazia is accused of disrespecting Islam, she calmly responds with the right Quran, which shows how much compassion and respect she has for her community. The makers efficiently showcase the secular courtroom’s hesitation to take on a case that challenges the Sharia Laws while still respecting the beliefs of Muslims. However, it does hold those who exploit it accountable, including Abbas Khan.

Yami Gautam delivers one of her most grounded performances. She doesn’t shout or break down dramatically. Sometimes, the impact of the pain her character endures could have been stronger. Overall, the actress does a stellar job. Emraan Hashmi is commendable and controlled, not playing the character in a stereotypical way. He effectively portrays a man’s entitlement, using his privilege to justify playing with the lives of others, particularly Shazia’s. Their scenes together, especially in the courtroom, convey a heavy, uncomfortable silence that communicates more than pages of dialogue could.

 

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The writing, though sincere, isn’t flawless. The pacing in the first half drags, and some of the side characters feel underused. The emotional tension builds smoothly but doesn’t always sustain. The courtroom scenes sometimes feel flat or overly simplistic, leaving you yearning for the complexity that this entire case embodies.

Haq Review: Final Thoughts

Haq succeeds where it truly matters, in reminding viewers that the fight for justice shouldn’t be considered an attack on beliefs or religion. It is evident that the movie doesn’t intend to target any community but puts forward the question of the rights of women, which are often disregarded. The film is sincere in voice, balanced in tone, and quietly powerful in the moments that matter.

The movie releases in theatres on November 7, 2025.