Story of law, faith and gender
India’s year-end box office got a jolt on Friday as “Haq,” a Hindi courtroom drama headlined by Emraan Hashmi and Yami Gautam Dhar, arrived in cinemas with strong advance bookings and unusually loud online talk for a non-franchise film. The movie, inspired by India’s 1985 Shah Bano maintenance case, follows a Muslim woman who refuses a low settlement and hires a star lawyer to test the boundaries between personal law and constitutional guarantees. Exhibitors said morning shows in Mumbai, Delhi and Lucknow opened above expectations, helped by a marketing push that framed the film as both legal thriller and emotional family story. With big Diwali-season spectacles still a week away, distributors see “Haq” as a chance to prove that issue-based titles can hold single screens if they deliver star power and clear stakes.
Industry watches audience mood
Analysts tracking India’s multiplex chains noted that October’s strong line-up of Hollywood and South-Indian imports had lifted footfall, but Hindi originals still needed a solid, conversation-starting hit. “Haq” arrives with exactly that promise: the courtroom exchanges are paced for clips, the music album is short, and the film is cut to just over two hours to encourage repeat shows in tier-2 cities. Trade sources said the producers timed release for November 7 to avoid a clash with the historical epic “120 Bahadur” later in the month and to grab premium screens before Christmas imports land. If word of mouth holds through Sunday, the film could clear its reported mid-budget costs in the first week and give writers more room to pitch real-case dramas in 2026.