Haq True Story: Did Shah Bano's Husband Marry Her Cousin While She Was Pregnant With Third Child?

Emraan Hashmi and Yami Gautam's film, Haq, showed the struggle of a Muslim woman. She went against her own religious laws and dragged her ex-husband to court to seek maintenance for her three children. Yami beautifully portrayed the role of Shah Bano. The film has left a strong impact on the audience. However, not many know that Shah Bano's husband had married her cousin from Pakistan. Read on to know all about Mohd. Ahmed Khan's second wife.

Who was Shah Bano's husband, Mohd. Ahmed Khan's second wife?

Shah Bano was married to a famous lawyer, Mohammad Ahmed Khan. She was the first cousin on his mother's side. As per the real-life story of Shah Bano, she was married to Mohammed Ahmed Khan for fourteen years. However, after fourteen years, Mohammad Ahmed Khan married a younger woman. According to reports, Mohammad Ahmed Khan married his wife's cousin, Halima Begum.

More about Shah Bano's husband's second wife, Halima Begum, and her children

With Halima Begum, Mohammad Ahmed Khan had seven children, one son and six daughters. Halima Begum and Shah Bano lived together under the same roof for many years until Mohammad Ahmed divorced her when she was 62. Talking about Mohammed Ahmed Khan's son from his second wife, Zafar Ahmed Khan, who was a lawyer just like his father.

Who was Shah Bano Begum?

Shah Bano Begum was born in 1916 in Indore, Madhya Pradesh. She lived a simple life and got married to Mohammed Ahmad Khan, who was a respected lawyer of his time, in 1932. The two had five children, three sons and two daughters and were married for fourteen years. 

However, after fourteen years of marriage, Mohammed Ahmad Khan got married for the second time, which is permitted under Muslim personal law. The two wives lived together, but many years later, Mohammed Ahmad Khan decided to divorce her through an irrevocable triple talaq. He even stopped providing the small monthly allowance he had promised. 

This left Shah Bano without financial support at the age of 62. Left with no choice, she decided to head to court for her right to maintenance. In 1978, she filed a petition in the local court in Indore under Section 125 of the Criminal Procedure Code, which entitles a wife, regardless of any religion, to claim maintenance if she cannot support herself.

On the other hand, Mohammaed Ahmad Khan countered her by stating that under Islamic law, his obligation to provide her financially ended after the iddat period (90 days post-divorce), and he had already paid Rs. 5,400 as per religious rules. The two fought the case for seven years before it was presented in the Supreme Court of India, and the judgment was ruled in favour of Shah Bano.

More about the film, Haq

Haq was released on the OTT platform, Netflix, on January 2, 2026. Fans are loving Yami Gautam's performance as 'Shazia Bano', who fell in love with 'Abbas Khan' played by Emran Hashmi. In 1967, the two got married in Uttar Pradesh. 'Shazia Bano' was enjoying the marital phase of her life, taking care of 'Abbas' home. She was the daughter of an Imam and only knew about the Quran and didn't get a formal education. On the other hand, 'Abbas' was a well-reputed lawyer. But one day, 'Shazia's' world fell apart as her husband got married for the second time. The film is directed by Suparn S Varma and is based on the true events of Shah Bano's case. 

What do you think about Shah Bano's life story and how she was betrayed by her husband?

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