Daughter of Underworld Figure Files Mumbai Court Suit to Halt Release of Movie ‘O’ Romeo’

India: In a last-minute legal challenge, Sanober Shaikh, daughter of the late Hussain Ustara, also known as Hussain Shaikh, has approached a Mumbai civil court seeking to block the theatrical release of the upcoming Bollywood film O’ Romeo, starring Shahid Kapoor and directed by Vishal Bhardwaj.

The civil suit, filed on February 2, 2026, names producer Sajid Nadiadwala, director Vishal Bhardwaj, and author-journalist Hussain Zaidi as defendants. Shaikh alleges that the film is an unauthorised biopic based on her father’s life, portraying him falsely as a gangster without obtaining family consent. She claims this depiction could cause irreparable harm to her reputation, her children’s well-being, and the family’s right to privacy and peaceful living.

According to the petition filed through advocate D.V. Saroj, Hussain Ustara was a key police informer who assisted law enforcement and intelligence agencies in combating crime in Mumbai and across India, particularly against underworld elements linked to Dawood Ibrahim’s D-Company. Shaikh insists her father was not a criminal but a contributor to crime prevention, and the film’s portrayal defames him.

The suit demands a permanent injunction preventing the film’s release in theaters, on television, OTT platforms, or any other medium. It also requests the court to appoint a commissioner to preview the film and report on its content before any decision.

The film O’ Romeo, an action-thriller reportedly inspired by a chapter in Hussain Zaidi’s book Mafia Queens of Mumbai, is scheduled to hit theaters on February 13, 2026, coinciding with Valentine’s Day. It features Shahid Kapoor in the lead, alongside Triptii Dimri, Nana Patekar, Tamannaah Bhatia, Disha Patani, and others.

Filmmakers, including Vishal Bhardwaj and the production team, have previously denied that the movie is a direct biopic, describing it as a work of fiction with creative liberties. They maintain that rights were secured for the source material, and no separate family permission was required.

The Mumbai City Civil Court has listed the matter for hearing on February 6, 2026, just one week before the planned release. No injunction has been granted yet, leaving the film’s fate uncertain amid this high-profile clash between artistic expression and personal reputation rights.