Kamal Ghorui
Vishal Bhardwaj’s upcoming film ‘O Romeo’, starring Shahid Kapoor and Triptii Dimri in the lead, has scored a major legal win ahead of its release. A Mumbai civil court has refused to stay the film’s release, rejecting interim relief sought by the daughter of late gangster Hussain Ustara, who claimed the project was based on her father’s life.Sanober Shaikh, daughter of Hussain Shaikh, also known as Hussain Ustara, had alleged that the filmmakers went ahead with the project without taking consent from her or her family. She filed a civil suit against producer Sajid Nadiadwala, director Vishal Bhardwaj and author Hussain Zaidi.
In its order passed on Saturday, the court held that Sanober failed to establish a case for an injunction. Civil court judge H C Shende said that the plaintiff had earlier sought monetary compensation from the makers, making the request for an immediate stay “impermissible in the eye of law”.In her plea, Sanober Shaikh claimed that the film’s theme is entirely drawn from her late father’s life, alleging that he has been “portrayed as a gangster”.The defence, however, maintained that the film is a “pure work of fiction” and carries clear disclaimers. Advocates Ashwin Bhalekar and Rishi Bhuta, appearing for the makers, informed the court that Sanober had sent multiple notices prior to filing the suit, demanding compensation ranging between Rs 1 crore and Rs 5 crore. They argued that this clearly showed “the grievance is purely monetary”.The court also pointed out the delay in filing the suit. “The plaintiff was well aware of the proposed film much prior to filing suit, yet approached the court only when the release date was imminent,” the judge observed. The court further declined the request for a pre-release screening, stating that such a move would amount to judicial censorship, which is not permissible under settled law.Sanober Shaikh’s lawyer has said the verdict will now be challenged before the Bombay High Court.‘O Romeo’ is a gangster drama, with its teaser suggesting a gritty, action-driven narrative filled with violence and romance, though the plot remains tightly under wraps. Shahid Kapoor is seen playing a gunman in the film.The project marks Vishal Bhardwaj’s third collaboration with Shahid Kapoor after ‘Kaminey’ and ‘Haider’. The film also features a strong ensemble cast including Triptii Dimri, Avinash Tiwary, Farida Jalal, Vikrant Massey, Nana Patekar, Tamannaah Bhatia and Disha Patani. ‘O Romeo’ is slated for a theatrical release on February 13.
