In a major development ahead of its theatrical release, the Madhya Pradesh High Court has rejected the plea filed by Siddiqua Begum, who claims to be the daughter of Shah Bano. She had sought a stay on the release of Haq, the upcoming film starring Emraan Hashmi and Yami Gautam. The controversy erupted after Siddiqua challenged the makers for allegedly portraying her mother’s story without the family’s consent. This legal battle had put the film’s release in doubt, but the court’s decision has now cleared the path for the movie to hit cinemas as planned.
Siddiqua Begum had approached the court demanding a ban on the film’s release and all promotional activities. Her argument was that Haq draws directly from the life and personal experiences of her late mother, Shah Bano, whose historic 1985 Supreme Court case reshaped Indian legal and social discourse. According to Siddiqua, the film infringes upon the family’s privacy and misuses personal details under the guise of creative liberty. She felt that the film was exploiting her mother’s story for commercial gain without seeking the family’s permission.
Court Rules Privacy Does Not Survive After Death
Justice Pranay Verma at the Indore Bench of the Madhya Pradesh High Court dismissed the arguments. The court held that privacy or reputation earned by a person during their lifetime does not survive after death. It cannot be inherited like movable or immovable property. This was a crucial point in the ruling, as it clarified that once a person passes away, their right to privacy no longer exists in the same way. The court also noted that since the matter became a part of public record through the Supreme Court judgment, it is a legitimate subject for comment by the press and media.
Filmmakers Clarify Haq Is Inspired, Not A Biopic
The legal team representing Haq strongly refuted Siddiqua’s claims. They clarified that the film is not a biographical retelling but is inspired by the well known Supreme Court judgment in the case Mohd Ahmed Khan vs Shah Bano Begum. The team further stated that the story draws from the published novel Bano, Bharat Ki Beti by Jigna Vora, and focuses more on the court proceedings without referencing personal family matters. The court accepted this stance, noting that the film includes a disclaimer stating it is a dramatization, fictional, and an adaptation of a book inspired by the judgment.
Emraan Hashmi Had Earlier Addressed The Sensitivity
Emraan Hashmi had previously addressed this controversy in an exclusive conversation. He expressed that the team has been very sensitive to the overall issue and is not passing judgment or pointing a finger at anything in the film. The actor emphasized that they have extrapolated certain things inspired from the case and have documented it in a very sensitive manner. With the court’s decision now in favor of the makers, Haq is all set to release in cinemas on November 7, 2025.
About Haq
Haq is directed by Suparn S. Varma and stars Emraan Hashmi and Yami Gautam in lead roles. The film is inspired by the landmark Supreme Court judgment in the Shah Bano case. Haq has received strong praise from critics for its compelling narrative and performances. The film releases on November 7, 2025.
(Also read: Salman Khan Faces Legal Trouble Over Pan Masala Ads: Kota Court Hearing Set For November 27 Over Misleading Claims )
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