**Siddiqua Begum Khan Moves MP High Court to Restrain Release of Film *Haq* Over ‘Unauthorized’ Portrayal**
Siddiqua Begum Khan, daughter and legal heir of Shah Bano Begum, has approached the Madhya Pradesh High Court seeking to restrain the release of the upcoming film *Haq*. The movie, starring Emraan Hashmi and Yami Gautam and directed by Suparn S. Verma, is based on the landmark 1985 Supreme Court case *Mohd Ahmed Khan vs Shah Bano Begum*. This case was pivotal in securing maintenance rights for divorced Muslim women in India.
Scheduled to release on November 7, 2025, *Haq* has come under judicial scrutiny following Siddiqua’s claim that the filmmakers failed to obtain consent from Shah Bano’s legal heirs before depicting her personal life. The petition asserts that the film distorts real-life personalities and private events, amounting to unauthorized commercial exploitation of Shah Bano’s legacy.
In her plea, Siddiqua Begum states that the film causes emotional trauma by publicly showcasing her mother’s personal struggles, potentially damaging the family’s dignity and reputation. She further asserts that she inherited her mother’s moral and personality rights, and the unauthorized portrayal infringes upon these rights.
During the hearing before Justice Pranay Verma at the Indore Bench, the film’s producers—represented by Junglee Films and other legal counsel—contended that *Haq* contains a disclaimer declaring it a fictional work and not a biopic. They argued that this disclaimer exempts them from seeking consent from Shah Bano’s heirs.
The Court responded by instructing the filmmakers to produce the disclaimer on record and clarified its role in protecting privacy.
Siddiqua’s lawyer emphasized that the objection lies not with the depiction of the Supreme Court judgment itself, which is part of the public record, but with the fictionalized portrayal of Shah Bano’s personal life and hardships.
Furthermore, the petition highlights that the film potentially violates provisions under the Cinematograph Act, 1952, which prohibits certification of films that defame or breach privacy. It also calls for the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) to revoke the censor certificate granted for the film’s release until proper consent is secured.
Prior to the court filing, Siddiqua had issued a legal notice to the producers, who reportedly refused to apologize or take legal responsibility for the lack of consent, prompting this court intervention.
The High Court has adjourned the matter for further hearing after reviewing the disclaimer and other pleadings.
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**Also Read:**
Yami Gautam on portraying Shah Bano in *Haq*: “This is a role any actor would dream of”
**Related:**
*Haq* Box Office Collection | Bollywood News Live Updates
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