Shahid Kapoor’s upcoming film O Romeo has landed in a legal controversy just days before its scheduled theatrical release, raising serious questions over creative freedom, real-life inspirations, and reputational rights. A civil suit has been filed in a Mumbai court by Sanober Shaikh, daughter of Hussain Ustara, seeking a stay on the film’s release on the grounds that it allegedly presents a distorted portrayal of her father’s life. The suit claims that although the makers describe the film as fictional, its narrative closely mirrors real events associated with Ustara, thereby causing potential harm to the family’s safety and reputation.
According to the plea, the trailer and promotional material of the film create an impression that Hussain Ustara was a gangster, a claim that the plaintiff strongly disputes. The suit argues that such a depiction is misleading and defamatory, especially when official accounts have described Ustara as someone who assisted law enforcement agencies. The petition seeks directions from the court to conduct a pre-release screening of the film and appoint a court commissioner or an independent authority to review its contents and submit a report before the release date.
The legal action has been initiated through advocate D V Saroj and names the film’s producer Sajid Nadiadwala, director Vishal Bhardwaj, and the author of the source material as respondents. The suit states that Hussain Ustara was not a criminal figure but a journalist who worked closely with government agencies, including the Mumbai Police and the Intelligence Bureau. It further claims that due to his role in supplying intelligence and opposing organized crime networks, his life was under constant threat.
The petition highlights Ustara’s alleged rivalry with Dawood Ibrahim and the D-Company, describing him as someone who openly defied the underworld syndicate. As per the suit, this defiance led to him being viewed as a destabilizing force, resulting in a planned assassination. The document claims that his killing in September 1998 was carried out by associates of Dawood Ibrahim, including Chhota Shakeel. It also refers to official correspondence from August 1994 in which Ustara was allegedly granted permission for a bulletproof jacket due to security threats.
The suit also cites interviews of former Mumbai Police encounter specialist Pradeep Sharma, who reportedly stated that while the film is presented as fiction, its core storyline is inspired by real-life events linked to Hussain Ustara. Despite these allegations, the plaintiff has not sought monetary damages at this stage, focusing instead on preventing what she claims is a false and harmful portrayal.
O Romeo features a star-studded cast including Shahid Kapoor, Triptii Dimri, Nana Patekar, Avinash Tiwary, Vikrant Massey, and Tamannaah Bhatia. The film is reportedly inspired by a chapter from Hussain Zaidi’s book Mafia Queens of Mumbai and is slated for release on February 13. The Mumbai Sessions Court is expected to hear the matter on February 6, a crucial date that could determine whether the film reaches cinemas as planned or faces a temporary halt.
