A fresh legal storm has hit Bollywood just days before the Valentine’s Day box office clash. Sanober Shaikh, the daughter of the late Mumbai figure Hussain Shaikh (popularly known as Hussain Ustara), has moved the Mumbai City Civil Court to stall the release of the Shahid Kapoor-starrer O’ Romeo.
Legal Battle Erupts Over ‘O’ Romeo’: Unauthorized Biopic or Work of Fiction?
Scheduled for release on February 13, 2026, O’ Romeo is directed by Vishal Bhardwaj and produced by Sajid Nadiadwala. The suit alleges that the film is an unauthorized and defamatory biopic of Hussain Ustara, a man the family describes as a brave police informant and journalist, rather than the gangster depicted in the trailers.
The Plaintiff’s Claims: “Character Assassination”
Sanober Shaikh’s lawsuit, filed on February 2, asserts that the makers are exploiting her father’s life for commercial gain without family consent.
- Distortion of Facts: Sanober claims her father was a “police asset” who assisted the Intelligence Bureau and Mumbai Police against the D-Company (Dawood Ibrahim’s syndicate). She argues the film falsely brands him a criminal.
- Family Impact: The plea states that a negative portrayal will cause “irreparable harm” to her and her children’s reputation and safety.
- Pre-Screening Demand: The suit seeks a court-appointed commissioner to pre-screen the film and verify if it mirrors Ustara’s life.
The Makers’ Defense: “Inspired by a Book”
Director Vishal Bhardwaj and producer Sajid Nadiadwala have denied the allegations in their legal responses.
- Source Material: The filmmakers maintain that O’ Romeo is based on a chapter from Hussain Zaidi’s book, Mafia Queens of Mumbai.
- Fictional Elements: Bhardwaj stated at the trailer launch that while the “germ of the idea” comes from the book, the film is a work of fiction with added dramatic elements. He argues that since the rights to the book were officially acquired, separate permission from the family was not legally required.
Who was Hussain Ustara?
Hussain Shaikh earned the nickname “Ustara” (Razor) as a teenager in Mumbai’s Pydhuni area. Historically, he is known as one of the few individuals who openly challenged Dawood Ibrahim’s dominance in the 1990s. He was tragically gunned down in 1998, reportedly by D-Company associates.
The Mumbai Sessions Court is set to hear the matter on February 6.