ET Now Exclusive | Actress Yami Gautam and Director Suparn Varma on HAQ - ‘Casting Is Destiny, Story Had To Be Told’

Actor Yami Gautam and director Suparn Varma opened up about their upcoming courtroom drama ‘HAQ’, the story of courage, justice, and a woman who finds her voice after years of silence.In an exclusive interview with Sumita Kareer, Deputy Editor and Anchor at ET Now, Yami talked about her preparation, emotional depth, and balancing motherhood with her career. Suparn revealed how the film completes his courtroom trilogy. The duo also discussed the evolving landscape of Indian cinema, women-led narratives, and the impact of AI on the industry.'Like each film has its own destiny, casting has its own': Haq actor Yami Gautam On being asked why she chose ‘Haq’ at this pivotal moment in her career, given her streak of delivering hard-hitting performances, Yami, ever gracious, offered a philosophical perspective.“The timing is never in an artist's hand. I can only choose from what I am offered and at what point of time that's beyond my liking or my control," she explained, reiterating the Indian industry film industry’s famous adage: "Each film has its own destiny”“So, who's going to play what that's also destiny. So, well someone must have thought of this saying…like each film has its destiny, casting also has its own destiny. So, no complaints…,” Yami added.Recounting the simple, decisive moment that led to her to choose the script, she said, "I still remember the evening that they (Director Suparn Verma and Writer Reshu Nath) would come home and discuss the script... I love reading the script. I'd love to read it. And as soon as I was done reading, I was absolutely convinced that this is something. I'm just fortunate to have gotten this opportunity, this massive opportunity to play the character that I got to portray and here we are now…”Haq was a planned part of 'courtroom trilogy': Suparn VermaResponding to a question why he was felt compelled to make a film on this particular subject at this point in time, tapping into the growing trend of realism in cinema, Suparn Verma revealed that Haq was a planned part of his "courtroom trilogy."“I was looking for something as part of my courtroom trilogy and this was a story that had been kind of coming back to me again and again for the last few years till I realized…and I dip dived into the subject matter into the inspirations that we took for creating the character,” he said.“And talking about the story of Haq, it was a story of a woman who had been silenced for far too long and she needed to be heard. It was so endemic and fundamental to our society today that the world we live in today that this Supreme Court judgment has impacted us and had such you know a long far-fetching results. It’s a story not many people know and neither of the struggle and the intricacies revolving around it. And, number two I think it's high time we had a film like Haq coming out which kind of talked about or make you kind of part of a community which you have not seen for a while now these stories,” Verma noted.“We have had Aurangzeb’s and Khilji’s and now finally we have a story which is a very Indian film that kind of goes out there and talks about the heart and matters of legality which have kind of brought us to 2025,” he added.Yami Gautam & Suparn Varma On HAQ | ‘Casting Is Destiny, Story Had To Be Told’ | ET Now Exclusive https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QqnJKbSsfVcHAQ special screening in Delhi Ahead of the release of HAQ, scheduled on November 7, 2025, a special screening was held in Delhi on November 4, 2025. Times Group MD Mr Vineet Jain, politicians and several other big and renowned personalities marked their presence.Yami and Emraan were joined by their co-star, Vartika Singh, and director Suparn S Varma. At the screening, Yami addressed the guests and thanked them. Emraan, who was also present at the screening, thanked the guests for taking precious time out to watch Haq.About Yami Gautam and Emraan Hashmi’s HAQ Junglee Pictures’ prolific slate (Raazi, Talvar, Badhaai Do) boasts of films that start important conversations. As firm believers in cinema as a vehicle for change, engagement, and entertainment, November 2025 will mark the release of their bravest work yet, HAQ.Led by Yami Gautam Dhar and Emraan Hashmi, HAQ is a gripping, high-stakes drama that promises to move hearts, spark debate, and keep audiences hooked till the very end.A fierce story of one woman, a mother’s fight against the system and society, HAQ stands as a testament to a no-holds-barred, gripping, and provocative drama. Produced by Junglee Pictures in association with Insomnia Films and Baweja Studios, HAQ is inspired by a landmark Supreme Court judgment.HAQ serves as a timely reminder that courage, when combined with knowledge and resilience, can move mountains. The debate in the film may have begun in the 1980s, but its relevance and intensity can still be felt today. A relentless conflict between personal belief and secular law, the film is a nail-biting takedown of patriarchy. Directed by Suparn S Varma (Sirf Ek Bandaa Kaafi Hai, The Family Man, Rana Naidu) and written by Reshu Nath, HAQ’s crowning jewel lies in the unforgettable performances of Yami Gautam Dhar and Emraan Hashmi.