The long-awaited social drama Haq, starring Yami Gautam Dhar and Emraan Hashmi, hit theatres today, November 7, 2025, opening to overwhelmingly positive reviews. Directed by Suparn Varma, the film, which takes clear inspiration from the historic Shah Bano case, is being hailed as one of the most mature and compelling courtroom dramas to emerge from Bollywood in years.
Critics and audiences alike are praising the film for its nuanced handling of a sensitive subject, focusing squarely on the universal themes of gender justice, personal rights, and human dignity over sensationalism.
The Story: A Woman’s Quiet Defiance
Haq follows the journey of Shazia Bano (Yami Gautam Dhar), a woman whose life is upended after her lawyer husband, Abbas Khan (Emraan Hashmi), remarries and misuses religious law to divorce her and deny her maintenance.
The film’s strength lies in its refusal to simplify the conflict. It does not vilify faith, but rather shows the human consequences when power, ego, and misinterpretation distort both religious and secular law. The narrative builds slowly, drawing the viewer into Shazia’s world of quiet resilience as she takes her battle for dignity and maintenance to the highest courts.
Stellar Performances Anchor the Drama
The film’s emotional impact is primarily driven by its lead performances, which critics have called career-defining:
- Yami Gautam Dhar as Shazia Bano has been widely lauded. Reviewers describe her portrayal as a masterful blend of restraint, heartbreak, and fierce conviction. Her courtroom monologues, delivered with quiet intensity, have resonated strongly with audiences, earning standing ovations in some early screenings.
- Emraan Hashmi breaks away from conventional villainy, portraying Abbas Khan as a man trapped by his own entitlement and flawed logic. His performance is nuanced and subtle, making his character frighteningly real, a well-educated man who uses his knowledge of law to justify his personal cruelty.
Mature Direction and Timely Dialogue
Director Suparn Varma and writer Reshu Nath have been credited with crafting a taut, intelligent screenplay that avoids preaching. The film’s dialogues are particularly sharp, with several lines about the necessity of respect over love, and the need for equality under the law, earning applause from viewers.
While some critics noted that the heavy use of authentic Urdu in the legal terminology might challenge a section of the Hindi-speaking audience, the consensus is that the film’s courageous, even-handed gaze makes it a necessary watch. Haq is positioned as a film that doesn’t beg for sympathy but demands respect for its protagonist and the social issues it bravely tackles.
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