Hussain Ustara’s Daughter Moves Court to Ban O’Romeo Release; Hearing Scheduled for February 6
A legal battle has erupted ahead of the scheduled release of the Hindi film O’Romeo. Sanober Shaikh, daughter of the late Hussain Ustara, has filed a civil suit in a Mumbai court seeking to halt the film’s release. The suit alleges that O’Romeo is an unauthorized and inaccurate biographical portrayal of her father’s life. Filed on Monday, the lawsuit names O’Romeo’s producer Sajid Nadiadwala, director Vishal Bhardwaj, and journalist-author Hussain Zaidi as defendants. Sanober has requested a permanent injunction to stop the film from releasing on its planned date of February 13, 2026—or at any later time unless the court permits it.
According to the court documents, the petition argues that no prior consent was obtained from Sanober before the film’s development. It claims the movie was produced “with the intent of commercial and monetary gain” and is closely based on the biography of Hussain Shaikh, popularly known as Hussain Ustara. Sanober expressed deep concern over her father’s portrayal, stating it could cause “irreparable injury” to her and her family, including her children, who deserve “to live in the world in peace and in a good atmosphere.”
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She further argued that the film’s release could have “serious implications” for her family and might “besmirch the character of the deceased.”The lawsuit also references prior legal notices sent to the filmmakers before the suit was filed. In response, representatives of Bhardwaj and Nadiadwala Grandson Entertainment have denied that O’Romeo is a biographical film, insisting it is “purely a work of fiction.”
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Sanober’s petition seeks court orders for a pre-screening of the film and the appointment of an authorized individual, such as a court commissioner, to review the content before public release. The civil court is set to hear the matter on February 6, with both temporary and permanent injunctions under consideration. O’Romeo, starring Shahid Kapoor and based on Hussain Zaidi’s book Mafia Queens of Mumbai, is scheduled to hit theatres on February 13, 2026.
