‘O’Romeo’: Sanober Shaikh moves court to halt release of Shahid Kapoor starrer film, alleges unauthorized use of her father’s life

The legal dispute surrounding Vishal Bhardwaj’s upcoming film ‘O’Romeo’ has intensified, with Sanober Shaikh, daughter of the late Hussain Ustara, approaching the court to block the film’s release. Sanober has filed a case against producer Sajid Nadiadwala, director Vishal Bhardwaj, and author Hussain Zaidi, objecting to what she claims is an unauthorised portrayal linked to her father’s life.

Plea seeks immediate stay on film release In her petition, Sanober Shaikh has requested the court to declare that the makers have no legal right to deal with, release, telecast, or distribute ‘O’Romeo’ under its present title or any other name from February 13, 2026, or on any later date.

She has sought a permanent injunction restraining the defendants from releasing the film in theatres or streaming it across television and OTT platforms. Alongside this, the plea asks for a temporary injunction to ensure that the film remains unreleased until the matter is fully adjudicated.

Sanober has also urged the court to order a pre-screening of the film. She has requested the appointment of a court commissioner or an authorised officer to examine the content and submit a detailed report. The suit further seeks interim relief, legal costs, and any additional directions the court may consider necessary.

Dispute sparked after teaser release The controversy began shortly after the teaser of ‘O’Romeo’ was unveiled. Sanober alleged that the film draws inspiration from her late father Hussain Ustara’s life without the consent of his family. Her lawyer subsequently issued a legal notice to Sajid Nadiadwala and Vishal Bhardwaj, demanding clarification and restraint.

Makers reject allegations The film’s makers have denied all allegations, asserting that ‘O’Romeo’ is not based on Hussain Ustara. Addressing the matter at the film’s trailer launch in Mumbai, Vishal Bhardwaj stated that the film is inspired by a chapter from Hussain Zaidi’s book ‘Mafia Queens of Mumbai’, for which the required rights were obtained.

Sanober questions author’s consent claims The dispute took a sharper turn when Sanober challenged claims that author Hussain Zaidi had taken the family’s permission. Speaking to NDTV, she said, “No, not at all. We did not even know when his book was released.” She alleged that the family became aware of the content much later through Zaidi’s Instagram broadcast. “That is when we found out that he had written and spoken a lot about my father in the book and in the broadcast – and that too incorrectly,” she added.

Sanober further accused Zaidi of distorting facts for personal gain. “He has twisted facts purely for his own popularity,” she claimed, adding that several events attributed to her father “never even happened.” Confirming that there has been no response to the legal notice sent by her lawyer DV Saroj, she stated, “Our matter is ongoing. We will file a case and whatever happens, we will proceed legally.” With Sanober firmly denying that any consent was ever granted, the controversy around ‘O’Romeo’ continues to deepen, placing renewed focus on authorship rights, consent, and cinematic adaptation.

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