Excitement for Shahid Kapoor’s ‘O Romeo’ has turned to apprehension amid a blistering defamation suit from the family of a real-life figure. Set to unspool on February 13, the Vishal Bhardwaj-helmed project—co-starring Triptii Dimri—stands accused by Sanobar Sheikh of vilifying her late father, Hussain ‘Ustara’ Sheikh. In court documents, she decries the trailer’s gangster caricature, clashing sharply with his legacy as a police collaborator who helped quash crimes across India, especially in Mumbai.
Claiming ‘irreparable harm’, Sanobar has sought an emergency stay, backing it with a police report against Bhardwaj and scribe Hussain Zaidi. The latter’s book ‘Mafia Queens of Mumbai’ underpins the film, where Shahid’s role allegedly channels Ustara’s essence into fiction. A hearing today could seal the movie’s fate.
Defenders argue it’s artistic expression, not biography. Zaidi clarified in interviews that while inspired in parts, the screenplay is a creative construct. This mirrors the recent ‘Ghooskhore Pandit’ controversy with Manoj Bajpayee, signaling a trend of familial pushback against Bollywood’s underworld tales.
As stakeholders brace for judicial scrutiny, the saga spotlights ethical dilemmas in adapting true stories. Will ‘O Romeo’ proceed, or bow to legal pressures? With Shahid’s career-high buzz, the resolution promises industry-wide ripples on blending fact with fantasy.