Haq Actor Salaries: Who Earned More — Emraan Hashmi vs Yami Gautam?

19 November 2025, Mumbai: The courtroom drama Haq has been the talk of the town since its release on November 7. Starring Emraan Hashmi and Yami Gautam, the film deals with a very serious subject inspired by the Shah Bano case. While the movie is fighting a tough battle at the box office, a new debate has started off-screen. Who took home the bigger paycheck?

In Bollywood, the gap between male and female actors’ salaries is always a hot topic. For Haq, reports are giving mixed signals. Some say there is a big gap, while others claim equal pay. Let’s look at the numbers.

The Pay Check Battle: Emraan Hashmi vs Yami Gautam

Usually, the male “hero” charges much more than the female lead. However, Yami Gautam is not just a side actor in this film; she is the face of the story.

According to a report by Times Now, there is a clear difference in fees. The report claims that Emraan Hashmi, who plays the lawyer husband, charged ₹12 Crore for his role. On the other hand, Yami Gautam, who plays the central character fighting for justice, was paid ₹7 Crore.

If these numbers are true, Emraan Hashmi earned ₹5 Crore more than his co-star. This is nearly double her fee. This has surprised many because the movie revolves entirely around Yami’s character, Shazia Bano.

A Twist in the Tale: Report of Equal Pay?

However, not every report agrees with this gap. As per News24, the makers decided to break the norm. Their sources suggest that both Emraan Hashmi and Yami Gautam were paid the same amount of ₹12 Crore.

If this is true, it is a rare moment in Bollywood. Equal pay for a female-led drama is a big step. But until the producers confirm, the industry generally believes the first report of the ₹ 5 Crore gap is more likely.

Supporting Cast: What Did Others Earn?

The movie also has a very strong supporting cast that makes the courtroom scenes intense.

• Sheeba Chaddha: The veteran actress plays the lawyer who stands like a rock with Yami Gautam. She charged approximately ₹1 Crore for her powerful performance.
• Vartika Singh: The debutant plays the role of the second wife. Since this is her first big film, her fee is not disclosed but is expected to be in lakhs, not crores.

Does the Box Office Justify These Fees?

This is the most important question. The movie was made on a budget of roughly ₹40-42 Crore. A huge chunk of this budget—nearly ₹19 to 24 Crore—went just into the salaries of the two main stars.

The box office collection after 12 days is around ₹17.75 Crore.

• Star Fees: High (approx 50% of budget)
• Box Office Return: Low/Average

When stars take such huge fees, the movie needs to earn at least ₹ 60-70 Crore to be safe. Haq is struggling to cross even ₹ 25 Crore. This shows that high star fees can sometimes become a burden for a small, content-driven film.

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Opinion

The “Haq” (Right) to equal pay is still a dream in Bollywood. While Yami Gautam delivered a performance worth National Award consideration, the market value of a “Hero” still dictates the cheque. If Emraan indeed took ₹ 12 Crore, it is a very heavy price tag for a film that has not performed well commercially. In the future, stars might have to cut their fees for such risky, social-drama subjects to make them profitable.

BoxOfficeWala