- By Sidhi Agarwall
- Fri, 10 Oct 2025 05:50 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
HAQ: Emraan Hashmi and Yami Gautam’s upcoming movie Haq has landed in legal trouble just weeks before its release. A legal notice has been issued to the filmmakers by Siddiqua Begum, the daughter and surviving legal heir of Shah Bano, claiming that the film depicts her late mother’s personal life without the family’s consent. The notice, sent through lawyer Tousif Z Warsi, demands that the makers immediately halt the film’s release and respond within seven days. It alleges that Haq includes unauthorised portrayals of Shah Bano’s private life, which could amount to defamation and violation of her personality and publicity rights.
In an interview with India Today, Tousif Z Warsi explained that the filmmakers failed to seek written permission from Shah Bano’s family before dramatising events from her life. He said, “The movie appears to showcase Shah Bano’s personal story, but we do not know what specific incidents have been included or how they have been depicted. The legal heirs have a right to know the storyline and theme of the film before its release.” He further stated that before producing or promoting a film inspired by a real-life person, filmmakers must obtain written consent from the concerned individuals or their legal heirs. “Without such written permission, the court is unlikely to allow the film’s publication or screening,” Warsi added, citing earlier instances where high courts stayed film releases over similar concerns.
Meanwhile, according to the notice, Siddiqua Begum claims that Haq was conceptualised and promoted without any communication with her or her family. She argued that this not only disrespects Shah Bano’s memory but also amounts to the “unauthorised use, distortion, and commercialisation of private life events.” Such actions, she stated, infringe upon fundamental and statutory rights protected under Indian law.
About HAQ Movie
Directed by Suparn Verma, Haq is scheduled to release on November 7, 2025. The film features Emraan Hashmi and Yami Gautam in lead roles and is said to explore themes of justice, gender equality, and constitutional rights. According to the makers, Haq begins as a love story between a husband and wife but soon evolves into an intense courtroom drama. The plot reportedly addresses key legal and moral debates, including the discussion around the Uniform Civil Code under Article 44 of the Indian Constitution.