O'Romeo: Vishal Bhardwaj reveals why he took 20 years to work with Nana Patekar; 'He has been quite upset with me'
Vishal Bhardwaj's O'Romeo stars Nana Patekar in a key role, but the director took 20 years to collaborate with the veteran actor. Recently, Bhardwaj opened up about why he took so much time.
Last Updated: 03.55 PM, Feb 15, 2026
O'Romeo, Vishal Bhardwaj’s latest romantic action-drama, hit theatres on February 13. Shahid Kapoor, Triptii Dimri, Avinash Tiwary, Farida Jalal, and Bhardwaj appeared on The Great Indian Kapil Show Season 4 for the film's promotion. During this, Vishal opened up about why he took so much time to collaborate with Nana Patekar.
Why did Vishal Bhardwaj collaborate with Nana Patekar after 20 years?
When asked by Kapil Sharma why he hadn’t collaborated with Nana Patekar sooner, despite a 20-year acquaintance, Vishal Bhardwaj admitted it was his mistake. He said that he had never taken a role like this before.
"Everyone is very scared of Nana Patekar, even though he is a very soft-hearted person. Nana has been quite upset with me over not working with him. He would catch me anywhere and remind me that he is Nana Patekar, an actor, and ask when I will cast him. I used to find it very embarrassing, but finally we worked together, and it took me some time," Vishal shared.
Vishal Bhardwaj on Nana Patekar leaving O Romeo trailer launch
For the unversed, at the O'Romeo trailer launch, Nana reportedly arrived on time but had to wait for over an hour. The veteran actor, reportedly upset, left the event before it officially began.
Addressing the incident, Vishal said that Nana had left the event, yet he would like to speak about him. He shared that Nana is like the naughtiest child in a classroom, the kid who bullies people and also entertains the most.
"I have known Nana for 27 years, but this is the first time we have worked together. If he had been here, it would have been great. But because we made him wait for an hour, he stood up in his signature style and left the event. We didn’t feel bad about it because we know this is what makes Nana, Nana Patekar," he said.
About O'Romeo
O'Romeo (2026), directed by Vishal Bhardwaj, is a 1995 Mumbai-set romantic action-thriller, where Shahid Kapoor plays Ustara, a feared contract killer who uses a razor (ustra) to eliminate targets for cop Nana Patekar. Triptii Dimri plays Afshan, a woman seeking vengeance for her husband's (Vikrant Massey) murder, hiring Ustara, with whom she falls in love, blending themes of revenge and romance. The film also stars Farida Jalal in a key role.
Meanwhile, as per Sacnilk, O’Romeo opened to a decent Rs. 8.25 crore on day 1, and it earned Rs. 12.25 crore on the second day, i.e. first Saturday.
O'Romeo FAQs:
Q: Who plays the lead in O'Romeo?
A: O'Romeo features Shahid Kapoor as Haseen Ustara with Triptii Dimri as Afsha. Nana Patekar, Avinash Tiwary, Tamannaah Bhatia, Vikrant Massey, Disha Patani, and Farida Jalal appear in the ensemble.
Q: Who is the director of O'Romeo?
A. Vishal Bhardwaj, who is known for Maqbool, Kaminey, Haider and other acclaimed films, is the creative vision behind O'Romeo.
Q: When will O'Romeo release on OTT?
A: O’Romeo is expected to mark its OTT debut on Prime Video after its theatrical run.