Shahid Kapoor’s O Romeo caught in legal crossfire; film's release to be halted?

Shahid Kapoor and Vishal Bhardwaj’s much-awaited film O Romeo has found itself at the centre of a legal storm even before its theatrical release. Days after the teaser dropped online, a legal notice has reportedly been sent to the makers, raising serious concerns about the film’s alleged inspiration and portrayal of real-life figures.

Legal Notice Raises Red Flags Post Teaser Release

Sanober Shaikh, daughter of late Mumbai gangster Hussain Ustara, has reportedly served a legal notice to the film’s team, objecting to what she believes could be a damaging portrayal of her father. According to reports, the notice demands a compensation of Rs 2 crore, to be paid within seven days. It also urges the makers to halt or cancel the film’s release until her concerns are addressed.

While the filmmakers have not officially stated that O Romeo is based on any real person, the teaser released on January 10 mentioned that the film is inspired by real events. This line has reignited long-standing industry chatter linking the story to figures like Hussain Ustara and Sapna Didi, further intensifying the controversy.

Vishal Bhardwaj’s Vision and the Story Debate

Interestingly, Shahid Kapoor’s character in O Romeo is named Ustara, which has added fuel to the speculation. Back in 2018, Vishal Bhardwaj had announced a different project starring Irrfan Khan and Deepika Padukone, where Irrfan’s character also carried the same name. At the time, Bhardwaj had publicly clarified that the story was not a biopic and had only loosely evolved from an idea inspired by a chapter in Mafia Queens of Mumbai, eventually taking on a completely fictional identity.

With O Romeo, the director seems to be treading a similar creative space, blending intense drama, crime, and romance, while maintaining that the film is not a direct retelling of any real-life story.

Cast, Expectations, and Release Details

O Romeo boasts a massive ensemble cast featuring Shahid Kapoor, Triptii Dimri, Avinash Tiwary, Vikrant Massey, Nana Patekar, Tamannaah Bhatia, Disha Patani, Farida Jalal, Aruna Irani, and several others. The film marks Shahid’s fourth collaboration with Vishal Bhardwaj after Kaminey, Haider, and Rangoon, raising expectations among fans of their creative partnership.

Despite the legal hiccup, O Romeo is currently slated for a theatrical release on February 13.