‘HAQ’ has made a strong start to 2026 on Netflix, emerging as one of the most watched Hindi films on the platform and underlining filmmaker Suparn S. Varma’s growing stature in the OTT space. At a time when streaming successes are often measured by brief spikes, the film has stood out for its sustained viewership and the conversation it has sparked within the industry.

According to Netflix’s weekly rankings, ‘HAQ’ debuted at the No. 1 position in India and opened at No. 2 globally on the platform’s Top 10 Non-English Films list. The courtroom drama also featured in the Top 10 across 14 countries, securing the top spot in five of them, indicating significant international interest for a Hindi film driven more by ideas and performances than spectacle.

Since its release, ‘HAQ’ has remained a consistent presence on Netflix India’s charts, outperforming several titles that have been available on the service for a longer period. Beyond numbers, the film has generated notable buzz within film and OTT circles, with actors, directors and creators publicly acknowledging its restrained storytelling and confident use of silence, tension and moral ambiguity.

Led by Yami Gautam and Emraan Hashmi, the film places performances at the heart of its narrative. Gautam delivers a measured and uncompromising portrayal of Shazia, while Hashmi is seen in one of his most unsettling roles to date. Together, they steer the courtroom drama away from familiar theatrics, instead probing questions of power, faith, marriage and moral responsibility.

Inspired by the 1985 Shah Bano case, HAQ does not position itself as a conventional historical retelling. Instead, it examines the personal cost of legal and social systems, keeping discomfort and complexity central to the viewing experience and encouraging audiences to sit with unresolved questions.

Reflecting on the response, Varma said he never set out to make a film designed to trend, but one meant to endure. He noted that while the Shah Bano case is remembered as a legal milestone, it was, at its core, the story of a woman fighting to be heard, and that human cost shaped the film’s perspective.

With a body of work that includes ‘The Family Man Season 2’, ‘Rana Naidu’ and ‘Sirf Ek Banda Kaafi Hai’, Suparn S. Varma continues to build a filmmaking legacy defined by moral inquiry, narrative restraint and performance-driven storytelling. As ‘HAQ’ maintains its momentum on Netflix, it reinforces the idea that films rooted in conviction and complexity can achieve both scale and lasting impact.