The family of the Indore woman, whose struggle reshaped India’s debate on Muslim women’s rights, demands immediate ban on the film scheduled for release on November 7
NEW DELHI — The upcoming film Haq, inspired by the life of Indore’s late Shah Bano Begum, has found itself at the centre of a controversy even before its release. The family of the woman whose name became a landmark in India’s legal and political history has expressed deep resentment, accusing the filmmakers of using her mother’s personal story without consent.
The film, starring Yami Gautam as Shah Bano and Emraan Hashmi as her husband and lawyer, is set for release on 7 November. However, Shah Bano’s daughter, Siddiqa Begum, has sent a legal notice to the film’s producers, claiming the movie violates the family’s privacy and misrepresents their mother’s life.
Speaking to reporters in Indore, Siddiqa Begum said, “It is painful to see that our mother’s personal struggles are being shown on screen without even asking us. Two of her daughters are alive — did the makers not think we deserved to be consulted?”
She added, “Our mother’s life was not entertainment. It was a fight for justice. If they truly respected her, they would have at least sought our permission.”
According to the family’s lawyer, the filmmakers have not sought any written consent from Shah Bano’s legal heirs. “No director or producer has approached the family for permission. Under the law, a person’s private life cannot be portrayed publicly without consent from their legal heirs,” the lawyer explained.
He further stated, “Even if the story is based on a public court case, that does not give the right to show intimate or personal details. Doing so amounts to an invasion of privacy.”
The notice sent to the filmmakers demands an immediate halt to the film’s release until proper permission is obtained. The family insists that the production house has commercialised a sensitive issue that deeply affected the life of a Muslim woman and her children.
Shah Bano became a household name in the 1980s when she went to court after being divorced by her husband, advocate Mohammad Ahmad Khan, at the age of 59. With five children to raise, she demanded maintenance under Section 125 of the Criminal Procedure Code.
The Supreme Court ruled in her favour, recognising her right to maintenance. However, the then Congress government under prime minister Rajiv Gandhi reversed the judgment by passing the Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Divorce) Act, 1986. The move was widely criticised as an act of political appeasement.
The film Haq is said to focus on a Muslim woman’s journey for justice after divorce — a story that mirrors Shah Bano’s real struggle. While the filmmakers claim it is a “fictionalised retelling”, the family insists it is clearly based on Shah Bano’s life.
“They can call it fiction, but anyone who knows the case can see whose story it is,” said Siddiqa Begum. “This is not just a legal issue; it is about respect. We will not allow anyone to profit from our mother’s pain.”
The family has demanded that the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) take immediate action and halt the release of the film until the matter is resolved.
Several Muslim community leaders have also voiced concern. Maulana Rashid Qasmi, a cleric from Indore, remarked, “Using a Muslim woman’s life story without consent is both unethical and against our values. Shah Bano’s case is part of our collective memory — not a film plot to be sold.”
He added that filmmakers must exercise greater sensitivity when depicting Muslim social issues, especially those involving women’s honour and family matters.
As of now, the producers of Haq have not publicly responded to the legal notice. Attempts to contact their representatives have reportedly gone unanswered. Industry sources, however, claim that the film is inspired by “multiple real-life cases” and not solely on Shah Bano’s story.
Meanwhile, the family says they are prepared to approach the court if their objections are ignored. “We are not against art or cinema,” said Siddiqa Begum, “but no one has the right to use our mother’s name or life without our consent. This is our fight for her dignity — the same way she once fought for her rights.”
Almost four decades after Shah Bano’s courageous legal struggle, the controversy around Haq has reopened old wounds. For many Indian Muslims, especially women, the case symbolised both the hope of justice and the pain of betrayal. Now, with this film, her daughters say history is being exploited rather than honoured.
As Siddiqa concluded, “They are calling the film ‘Haq’ — the word means ‘right’. Then let them start by respecting our right to be heard.”
