The upcoming Shahid Kapoor movie O Romeo will begin its theatrical run on February 13 2026, but the film currently faces legal problems that emerged just before its planned release. Sanober Shaikh filed a lawsuit in a Mumbai civil court to prevent the film’s release, as she is the daughter of the late Mumbai gangster Hussain Ustara, also known as Hussain Shaikh.
Shaikh claims that O Romeo presents her father through unauthorised means, as this creates an inaccurate representation of his existence. She claims that the filmmakers never obtained the family’s consent to use his life story, resulting in “irreparable injury” to their reputation. Her initial demands include ₹2 crore in compensation and a public clarification from the producers.
The current dispute illustrates how Indian cinema struggles to balance artistic freedom with the personal rights of individuals whose real-life stories serve as inspiration for film scripts. People who suffered actual damage to their reputation due to unauthorised public representations will take legal action against the individuals who made those representations.
The director Vishal Bhardwaj maintains that his film adaptation of Hussain Zaidi’s book Mafia Queens of Mumbai, which he legally obtained, represents the material from that book. Bhardwaj argues, in his analysis of O Romeo, that the film employs fictional characters because it uses imaginative storytelling rather than depicting real historical events. The February 13 decision in the case establishes new rules that Bollywood films must follow when adapting stories about real criminal figures. The filmmaking results will guide filmmakers as they balance two crucial elements: telling their stories effectively and protecting the people who relate to their subjects.
