Mumbai: The upcoming Bollywood film HAQ, produced by Junglee Pictures along with Insomnia Films and Baweja Studios, is being promoted as a courtroom drama but its themes raise serious concerns for the Muslim community. Starring Yami Gautam Dhar and Emraan Hashmi, the movie draws inspiration from the controversial Shah Bano case of the 1980s, a case that has long been used to target Muslim personal law. Scheduled for release on November 7, 2025, the film presents itself as a fight for justice and equality, but its narrative aligns with the pro-Uniform Civil Code agenda, portraying Muslim personal law as outdated and discriminatory.
The story follows Yami Gautam’s character, a Muslim woman, who seeks maintenance under Section 125 after being abandoned by her husband. Emraan Hashmi plays the lawyer who takes up her case. The film is based on Bano: Bharat ki Beti by Jigna Vora and frames the issue in a way that undermines the validity of Muslim personal law. By presenting the protagonist’s struggle as a symbol of women’s empowerment, the film reinforces the idea that the UCC is the only path to justice, sidelining the nuanced realities of the Muslim community.
Promoted as a thought-provoking drama, HAQ risks becoming yet another mainstream cultural tool that stigmatizes Muslims, questions their identity, and weakens the position of Islamic law in India. While the production team markets the film as progressive, its messaging aligns with political attempts to erode religious freedoms guaranteed under the Constitution.
