Swati Chauhan, the former Principal Judge recognized for her pivotal ruling on the issue of four marriages, has ventured into filmmaking with her directorial debut, Saira Khan Case. This film draws inspiration from an actual case she encountered in her courtroom, and it is co-written and co-directed alongside seasoned filmmaker Karan Razdan, known for his work on films such as Dilwale, Diljale, Deewane, Qayamat, Dushmani, and Trimurti. The film is scheduled for a theatrical release on October 10, with its official poster revealed today. It is produced by Soul Films, with support from Salim Lalani, Swati Chauhan, Nizar Lalani, Shamshu Pirani, Nimesh Patel, and Satish Bhanushali.
The cast includes Rajniesh Duggal, Poonam Dubey, Karan Razdan, Aradhana Sharma, Rajeev Verma, and Mukesh Tyagi. The narrative centers on the experiences of a Muslim woman who faced unilateral divorce through triple talaq and was separated from her children, while her husband asserted his right to marry multiple times. This film explores the conflict between personal religious laws and India’s secular legal systems, a matter Chauhan previously handled during her judicial career. Reflecting on her experiences, Chauhan noted, “Certain prejudices in the system compelled me to choose between privileges and principles. I chose the latter and left the judiciary. However, my dedication to justice remained steadfast.
Cinema has become my new courtroom.” After retiring voluntarily, Chauhan obtained a diploma in filmmaking to share stories based on real-life struggles for justice. Chauhan emphasized that the film captures the essence of her 2014 ruling while ensuring the privacy of those involved is maintained. “I’ve preserved the core of my judgment while strictly avoiding the disclosure of names, locations, or identifying details of the parties. The film’s verdict closely mirrors my ruling, with only slight adjustments.
Creative liberties were taken to add characters, settings, and timelines, as well as to address recent legal developments like the ban on talaq-e-biddat and current Supreme Court discussions regarding other forms of triple talaq.” With Razdan’s guidance, Chauhan has transformed her courtroom verdict into a powerful narrative intended to ignite public discourse on justice, gender rights, and the changing landscape of law.