Debate
around
Vishal
Bhardwaj’s
upcoming
film
O
Romeo
has
intensified,
as
Hussain
Ustara’s
daughter
Sanober
Shaikh
rejected
claims
that
the
family
threatened
the
makers.
Sanober
wants
to
watch
the
film
before
release,
challenges
its
reported
romantic
track,
and
says
the
family
is
prepared
for
a
legal
battle.
The
controversy
began
after
the
recent
O
Romeo
teaser
dropped
online.
Social
media
users
quickly
speculated
that
the
story
draws
from
the
lives
of
Mumbai
figure
Hussain
Ustara
and
Sapna
Didi.
Soon
after,
reports
surfaced
alleging
that
Ustara’s
family
had
issued
threats
to
the
filmmakers.
O
Romeo
and
Hussain
Ustara
dispute:
family
denies
threats
Speaking
to
India
Today,
Sanober
strongly
rejected
those
threat
reports
and
stressed
respect
for
the
team.
She
said,
“Vishal
Bharadwaj
is
an
acclaimed
director,
and
Shahid
Kapoor
is
also
a
good
actor,
and
we
have
no
issues
with
anyone.
We
want
to
watch
the
film
before
it
releases
so
we
can
give
it
a
go-ahead.
We
also
want
the
makers
to
accept
that
our
family
has
given
no
threats
to
them.
Rest,
we
will
fight
this
in
court.”
Sanober
also
objected
to
how
O
Romeo
appears
to
portray
the
relationship
between
Hussain
Ustara
and
Sapna
Didi.
She
said
Sapna
held
a
position
in
the
family
closer
to
a
sibling.
She
said,
“She
was
like
a
sister
to
my
baba,
but
as
per
the
film,
they
are
showing
a
romantic
angle,
which
is
absolutely
wrong.
We
are
demanding
a
pre-screening
for
the
film
so
we
can
understand
what
it
is
all
about.
If
they
are
taking
my
father’s
story,
they
should
keep
it
real.
We
are
ready
to
fight
the
case
till
the
end.”
O
Romeo
dispute
over
Hussain
Ustara
story
rights
and
consent
According
to
Sanober,
the
O
Romeo
team
never
approached
the
Hussain
Ustara
family
for
consent
or
creative
input.
Sanober
said
the
family
had
stayed
away
from
public
attention
for
years
and
was
not
stepping
forward
for
financial
gain
or
visibility,
but
to
protect
Hussain
Ustara’s
life
story.
Sanober
added
that
once
talk
spread
about
O
Romeo
being
based
on
Hussain
Ustara,
their
quiet
life
changed.
She
said
relatives
received
frequent
calls,
messages
and
videos
from
strangers,
asking
questions
about
the
film
and
about
their
past,
which
the
family
experienced
as
harassment.
O
Romeo
release,
cast
and
Hussain
Ustara
connections
While
the
dispute
continues,
O
Romeo
remains
scheduled
for
a
theatrical
release
on
13
February
2026.
The
ensemble
cast
features
several
well-known
Hindi
film
names,
including
Shahid
Kapoor
in
the
lead,
alongside
actors
linked
with
both
mainstream
and
streaming
projects.
| Film |
Release date |
Key cast |
|---|---|---|
|
O Romeo |
13 February 2026 |
Shahid Kapoor, Triptii Dimri, Nana Patekar, Tamannaah Bhatia, Vikrant Massey, Avinash Tiwary, Disha Patani |
For
now,
Sanober
Shaikh
wants
a
pre-screening
of
O
Romeo,
a
public
clarification
that
no
threats
were
made,
and
an
accurate
portrayal
of
Hussain
Ustara
and
Sapna
Didi.
The
family
plans
to
continue
the
legal
route,
while
the
film’s
release
date
and
cast
line-up
stay
unchanged.