Emraan Hashmi on patriarchy: 'When men think it’s their world, it costs women their dignity'

Emraan Hashmi on patriarchy: 'When men think it’s their world, it costs women their dignity'

Emraan Hashmi, known for taking on layered and provocative roles, is stepping into the courtroom for his next film Haq. The legal drama, directed by Suparn S Varma, is inspired by the historic Shah Bano case, a landmark judgment that redefined the conversation on women’s rights in India.

In the film, Emraan plays Ahmed, a prominent lawyer whose estranged wife challenges him in court for maintenance, forcing him to confront not just legal battles but deep-seated patriarchal biases.

Speaking to ANI about the film’s core message, Emraan said it’s not just a women-centric story but a mirror for men to introspect. “It's a story of a woman's voice. It's a story of equality. It's a story of a certain right to dignity. It's a story for men as well. I think these biases that men have in a patriarchal society, that we think it's a man's world, and we will do whatever we can, and it costs a woman her dignity. That has been reflected in this film. If you introspect on that, you will find value in this film. For men as well,” he said.

The actor described Haq as a “pro-women” film that refrains from vilifying any religion or community. “This is a film where, when you step out of the theatre, we will find it is pro-women and we have raised the issue for their dignity, for their equality of rights. But at the same time, if you feel that during the final monologue and the film, Ahmed bhi Abbas bhi jo apne nazariye se ki jo environment mein pala bada tha jo uski conditioning thi vo sahi tha apni taraf to humne apna kaam kar liya. So we are not judging anyone in this film. We are not pointing fingers. We have just shown you the case in a very unbiased way. And then it is up to you as to how you step out of the theatre,” Emraan added.

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The real-life Shah Bano case dates back to 1978, when Shah Bano Begum filed a petition in the Indore court seeking maintenance from her husband, Mohammed Ahmed Khan, a respected lawyer. Married for 46 years and mother to five children, Shah Bano’s plea eventually reached the Supreme Court, which ruled in her favor, establishing a precedent for Muslim women’s right to maintenance. However, the 1986 Rajiv Gandhi government overturned the judgment through legislation, triggering decades of debate on religion, law, and gender equality.

In Haq, Yami Gautam plays Emraan’s on-screen wife, a character inspired by Shah Bano herself. The film also features Vartika Singh, Danish Husain, Sheeba Chadha, and Aseem Hattangady in key roles. Produced by Vineet Jain, Vishal Gurnani, Juhi Parekh Mehta, and Harman Baweja, Haq will release in theatres on November 7.