Soul Films’ Saira Khan Case (UA) is the story of Saira Khan (Poonam Dubey) a foreign national Muslim lady who is devasted when her Muslim husband, Hanif (Rajniesh Duggal), in India gives her a unilateral talaq and abandons her, taking his three sons alongwith him while leaving behind their daughter. He intends to remarry. But Saira Khan refuses to accept the betrayal. After being unable to stop Hanif from taking away her three sons, she knocks the doors of the court. Her legal battle is not only for her fight to get back her sons but also to call out the one-sided interpretation of Muslim personal laws within India’s secular system.
Swati Chauhan and Karan Razdan’s story is interesting although it may not be very novel as films like Nikaah have dealt with similar (if not completely the same) issues. However, the duo’s screenplay is not half as exciting and thrilling as it ought to have been. The courtroom battle needed to be far more fulfilling. In its absence, the drama becomes boring after a point of time. Swati Chauhan and Karan Razdan’s dialogues are good at places.
Poonam Dubey is alright as Saira Khan. Rajniesh Duggal is average as Hanif. Aradhana Sharma makes her presence felt as advocate Gauri. Karan Razdan leaves a fine mark as advocate Pathan. Rajeev Verma is okay as Nanu. Mukesh Tyagi is alright as the judge. Sabi Suri (as Hanif’s second wife), Manmohan Tiwari (as Vidur), Ajay Pal (as a lawyer), Manzar Khan (as the actor-friend), Aashi Gungaram (as the actress-friend), Drishti Singh (as Manisha), Rajesh Soni (as the peon), Ravi Batham (as the reporter), Lavanya Gond (as Sofia), Aaransh Jaisinghani (as Shoaib), Ramesh (as the postman), Deepti Jayaprakash (as the marriage counsellor), Satyam Tiwari (as Hanif’s house help, Deepak), Kashish Gangwani (as Saira’s mother), Preeti Srivastava (as Mary), Ashwini Sahu (as the lawyer), Utkarsh Tiwari (as lawyer Ranjeet), Anuradha Rao (as Hanif’s mother), Agast Anand and the others pass muster.
Karan Razdan and Swati Chauhan’s direction ought to have been far more impactful. The narration is not as effective as the story demanded. Harshveer Indi’s music, and Shweta Raj’s lyrics are functional. Background music (by Harshveer Indi and Sharon Choure) should’ve been more compelling. Mayank Sharma’s camerawork is average. Manmohan Singh’s production designing, and Mahendra Rawat’s art direction hardly deserve separate mention. Sandeep Singh’s editing should’ve been far more sharp.
On the whole, Saira Khan Case is a weak fare with bleak chances at the ticket counters in spite of a good story.
Released on 10-10-’25 at Metro Inox (daily 1 show) and other cinemas of Bombay thru Haroon Rashid Films. Publicity & opening: poor. …….Also released all over. Opening was weak everywhere.