Vishal Bhardwaj Explains His Stand at Trailer Launch
Filmmaker Vishal Bhardwaj has addressed the controversy around not seeking permission from gangster Hussain Ustara’s family for his upcoming film O Romeo. Speaking at the film’s trailer launch on Wednesday, Bhardwaj said he did not feel the need to take consent because the story is based on a book whose rights he legally owns. According to the director, the film adapts an already published work and therefore does not require separate family approval.
O Romeo Based on Hussain Zaidi’s Book
O Romeo, which stars Shahid Kapoor as Hussain Ustara, draws its narrative from journalist Hussain Zaidi’s book Mafia Queens of Mumbai. Bhardwaj clarified that he acquired the rights to the story directly from the author. “The germ of the idea and the characters are the same, but we have added fictional elements,” he said, as quoted by PTI. He added that any permissions related to the original book would rest with the author, not the filmmaker adapting it for cinema.
Family Raises Objections to Film’s Portrayal
The clarification comes after Sanober Shaikh, Ustara’s daughter, stated that the filmmakers did not seek the family’s consent. She also objected to the romantic track shown in the film between Shahid Kapoor’s character and Triptii Dimri, who plays gangster Sapna Didi. While Bhardwaj did not directly address the objections, he reiterated that the film takes creative liberties and blends fact with fiction, a common practice in cinematic adaptations of real-life stories.
How O Romeo Differs From Shelved Film Sapna Didi
Bhardwaj also spoke about his earlier shelved project Sapna Didi, which was set to feature Deepika Padukone and Irrfan Khan. He clarified that Sapna Didi and O Romeo are entirely different films. “That script and cast were different. This is a new film that evolved over time,” he said. He added that the title O Romeo emerged much later during the creative process and has no connection to the earlier project.
O Romeo boasts a star-studded cast including Shahid Kapoor, Triptii Dimri, Nana Patekar, Avinash Tiwary, Tamannaah Bhatia, Farida Jalal, Disha Patani, and Vikrant Massey in a special appearance. Produced by Sajid Nadiadwala, the film is scheduled for a theatrical release on February 13, 2026.
