'Haq': Is Shah Bano's Husband, Mohd. Ahmed Khan's Second Wife Alive? Meet Halima Begum's 7 Kids

Yami Gautam Dhar and Emraan Hashmi's courtroom drama, Haq, is currently making waves on social media. Following its OTT release on Netflix on January 2, 2026, the film has dominated the headlines. As of January 5, 2026, the movie is trending at #1 on Netflix India. Haq's successful run on OTT drew in renewed attention to the real-life incident of Shah Bano, on which it is based. Most of us are aware of the Shah Bano case and its later reversal. Here's a look at the lesser-known details of Shah Bano's life, including her husband, Mohammed Ahmed Khan's second wife, Halima Begum, and their children.

Is Mohammed Ahmed Khan's second wife, Halima Begum alive?

Halima Begum was the second wife of Mohammad Ahmed Khan, who was also the younger cousin of Shah Bano. Some reports suggest that both Shah Bano and Halima Begum were first cousins of Mohammad Ahmed Khan from his mother's side. Ahmed married Halima in 1946 while he was still married to Shah Bano, a practice permitted under Muslim Personal Law. According to The Indian Express, for many years, both wives lived together in the same 50 sq ft haveli with their respective children. Halima Begum, the second wife of Mohammad Ahmed Khan, is not alive.

Regarding her current status, reports indicate that she passed away a few years before the death of Mohammad Ahmed Khan, who himself died in April 2006 at the age of 94. Although the exact date of Halima's passing is not publicly available, in 2016, legal and family updates confirmed that both she and her husband were no longer living. Thus, it can be confirmed that Mohammed Ahmed Khan's second wife died sometime between 2006 and 2016. Halima and Ahmed married in 1946, approximately 14 years after Ahmed's first marriage to Shah Bano.

Meet Halima Begum and Mohammed Ahmed Khan's seven children. Are they alive?

Halima Begum and Mohammed Ahmed Khan had seven biological children, including one son and six daughters. Halima and Ahmed's only son, Zafar Ahmed Khan, became a lawyer like his father. According to The Indian Express, Zafar and Ahmed were two of the city's most prominent lawyers, and the entrance door of their house bore a nameplate with both their names. Zafar and his siblings lived with Shah Bano and her children under the same roof until Ahmed evicted Shah Bano and her children in 1975, eventually divorcing her in 1978 under the then-prevailing triple talaq custom.

When Mohammad Ahmed Khan's parents were alive, there were reportedly 16 adults and their children living in the haveli, even though some of the sons and daughters had married and moved out. Regarding whether Halima's children are alive, there is no specific information available. Zafar was reported to be alive and practicing law alongside his father before the latter's death in 2006. Reports at that time also mentioned the six daughters being a part of the bereaved family; however, their current individual statuses as of January 2026 are not publicly documented.

Are Shah Bano and Mohammed Ahmed Khan's five children alive?

Shah Bano and Ahmed's eldest daughter, Siddiqua Begum Khan, is alive and continues to serve as her mother and siblings' spokesperson. She is reportedly Shah Bano's only legal heir as of January 2026. In 2025, she filed a legal challenge against the release of the film, Haq, which was inspired by her mother's life, citing factual inaccuracies and the revival of family trauma. No information is available regarding Shah Bano and Ahmed's second daughter, Fatima. Their eldest son, Hameed Khan, is deceased, and the youngest brother, Jameel, is alive but reportedly struggles with financial issues and public attention following the landmark case. The current status of the middle brother, Saeed, is unknown.

Shah Bano and Mohammed Ahmed Khan's surviving family mostly keeps a low profile and has recently come under the spotlight after the release of the Suparn S. Varma-directed film, Haq.

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