Shahid Kapoor calls O'Romeo 'special film' amid controversy; Says Vishal Bhardwaj brings out the best in him

Shahid Kapoor and Vishal Bhardwaj’s fourth collaboration, action musical, O’Romeo, is scheduled for February 13, 2026, release. However, it has already faced controversy as Sanober Shaikh, Hussain Ustara’s daughter, issued a legal notice over an alleged negative portrayal of her father, seeking Rs. 2 crore and Sanober also spoke about how they portrayed her father wrongly in the film. Amid this controversy, Shahid called O'Romeo a special film and praised director Vishal Bhardwaj. 

What did Shahid say about Vishal Bhardwaj and O'Romeo?

During a new interview with New Indian Express, Shahid Kapoor was asked about the creative synergy between him and director Vishal Bhardwaj. To this, Shahid said, "There is some X factor that we share. Whenever we come together, I feel we bring out the best in each other, and that he’s fundamental in my career graph, bringing out certain aspects of me which I wasn’t aware existed." 

Kapoor shared that exploring new dimensions of performance has expanded his range as an actor. He noted that both he and Vishal Bhardwaj have evolved significantly over the past decade, adding that O’ Romeo holds a special place for him.

"I do feel that O’ Romeo is a very special film. The world Vishal creates is always very fresh. So I’m hoping that we can give the audience a cinematic entertainer, which comes rarely these days," Shahid added. 

Meanwhile, before O'Romeo, Shahid Kapoor and Vishal Bhardwaj collaborated for films like Kaminey (2009), Haider (2014), and Rangoon (2017).

What's the story of O'Romeo?

O' Romeo (2026) is a Hindi-language action-thriller directed by Vishal Bhardwaj and starring Shahid Kapoor and Triptii Dimri, scheduled for release on February 13, 2026. Inspired by Hussain Zaidi's "Mafia Queens of Mumbai," the film is a gritty, romantic action-drama set in the Mumbai underworld, focusing on a dangerous love story tied to revenge plots.

The film is described as a "tragic love story" mixed with "revenge romance" and intense action, which centres on a stone-hearted gangster (Kapoor) whose life changes when he falls in love with a woman (Dimri).

The narrative is believed to be inspired by the real-life story of Hussain Ustara (a gangster who challenged Dawood Ibrahim) and "Sapna Didi" (Ashraf Khan), who sought to kill Dawood after her husband was killed. This film explores the underworld of post-independence Mumbai, featuring a "damsel in distress" narrative that transforms into a dark, emotional, and high-stakes romantic conflict.

Also Read: O'Romeo's Ishq Ka Fever marks Arijit Singh's last song? Fans say, 'don't leave playback singing'

O'Romeo FAQs:

Q: When to watch Shahid Kapoor’s O'Romeo?

A: O'Romeo will hit the theatres on February 13, 2026.

Q: Is O'Romeo similar to Kaminey or Haider?

A: No, O'Romeo is not related to Kaminey or Haider but marks a fourth collaboration between the actor and director. Other films include Kaminey and Rangoon.

Q: Who plays the lead roles in O'Romeo?

A: O'Romeo features Shahid Kapoor and Triptii Dimri in the lead roles. Apart from them, Nana Patekar, Avinash Tiwary, Tamannaah Bhatia and Disha Patan and Vikrant Massey (in a special appearance) play key roles.