The real story of Yami Gautam's 'Haq"- How 'Shah Bano' divorce case changed the way India looked at justice

Yami Gautam, Shah Bano

Yami Gautam is all set to bring one of India’s most defining courtroom battles to life in her upcoming film Haq.

The legal drama is inspired by the real story of Shah Bano, the 62-year-old Muslim woman, whose fight for maintenance after divorce changed how India looked at justice, religion, and women’s rights.

The film, also starring Emraan Hashmi, will release in theatres on November 7, 2025.

With Haq, Yami Gautam steps into the shoes of a woman who refused to accept silence as her fate. The film chronicles Shah Bano’s 1978 legal struggle against her husband, Mohammed Ahmad Khan — a respected lawyer in Indore — after he divorced her through instant triple talaq and refused to provide financial support.

The case that shook the system

Shah Bano’s story is one of quiet courage meeting relentless determination. Married to Mohammed Ahmad Khan in 1932, she spent decades in a seemingly ordinary life. That changed when her husband married a younger woman and asked Shah Bano and their children to leave their home. The modest allowance he had promised disappeared overnight, leaving her with no support.

Shah Bano had no choice but to take her battle to court. The All India Muslim Personal Law Board supported Mohammed Ahmad Khan's claim that his duty ended after the "iddat" period under Muslim personal law, stating that courts had no jurisdiction over religious matters.

For Shah Bano, however, this was always about justice, dignity, and being treated like a human being, not just about money.

In 1985, the Supreme Court ruled in her favor, stating that Section 125 of the CrPC applied to all citizens, no matter their religion. The judgment became a landmark, sparking debates across the country. Justice, the court said, had to come before personal law or tradition.

The verdict did not go down easily with conservative groups. Political pressure led to the Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Divorce) Act, 1986, limiting maintenance to the iddat period.

Shah Bano’s lawyer, Danial Latifi, challenged this, and the Supreme Court reaffirmed that a husband’s responsibility could not be so narrowly defined. Shah Bano’s fight had left an enduring mark.

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Yami Gautam brings Shah Bano to life

Haq tells this story with Yami Gautam portraying a woman who refused to be silenced. She’s not just a victim; she’s a pioneer. The film captures her resilience, her quiet defiance, and the heavy emotional toll of standing against social norms.

In order to portray Shah Bano's vulnerability and tenacity, Yami Gautam, who is well-known for her work in Article 370, studied her life extensively.

A lasting legacy

Although Shah Bano died in 1992, her struggle altered the discourse in India regarding women's rights. Later reforms were influenced by her fight, such as Shayara Bano's 2017 Supreme Court decision that abolished instant triple talaq.

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FAQs1. What is Yami Gautam’s Haq about?
Haq is inspired by the real-life Shah Bano case, depicting her legal battle that reshaped women’s rights and religious laws in India.

2. Who stars in Haq?
Yami Gautam plays the lead role inspired by Shah Bano, while Emraan Hashmi plays the role of her husband and lawyer.

3. When will Haq release?
Haq is slated for theatrical release on November 7, 2025, in Hindi and other regional languages.