A lawsuit filed in a Mumbai civil court has sought a stay on the release of the upcoming Hindi film “O’ Romeo”, starring Shahid Kapoor, alleging that the movie is an unauthorized and misleading biopic of late gangster Hussain Ustara.



Sanober Shaikh, daughter of Hussain Shaikh—widely known as Hussain Ustara—on Monday approached the court seeking a permanent injunction against the film’s release. She has named producer Sajid Nadiadwala, director Vishal Bhardwaj, and journalist-author Hussain Zaidi as defendants. The court is scheduled to hear the matter on February 6.



“O’ Romeo”, an action thriller slated for theatrical release on February 13, is reportedly based on Zaidi’s book “Mafia Queens of Mumbai”, with Shahid Kapoor portraying a character inspired by Ustara.



In her plea, Sanober Shaikh alleged that the filmmakers are producing and directing a movie centered on her late father’s life without obtaining consent from the family. Filed through advocate D. V. Saroj, the suit claims the film has been made purely for commercial gain and falsely depicts her father as a gangster.



She expressed apprehension that the film’s release would cause irreparable harm to her and her children, affecting their right to live peacefully and with dignity. The suit further stated that a distorted portrayal could have serious consequences for the family’s reputation.



Sanober Shaikh asserted that her father played a significant role in preventing crimes, particularly in Mumbai, and assisted law-enforcement and intelligence agencies in curbing criminal activities. She alleged that the defendants are exploiting a personal tragedy for monetary benefit.



According to the lawsuit, the film involves wrongful appropriation of Hussain Shaikh’s identity for private gain and could tarnish the reputation he built over decades.



The defendants, however, have denied the allegations. In their replies to prior legal notices, Vishal Bhardwaj and Nadiadwala Grandson Entertainment maintained that “O’ Romeo” is a work of fiction and not based on any real individual.



The plaintiff has submitted supporting material to the court, including references to a podcast interview in which a former police officer allegedly draws parallels between the film’s narrative and Hussain Ustara’s life.



Sanober Shaikh has urged the court to restrain the defendants from releasing the film in theatres, on television, or on any OTT platform on February 13 or thereafter, in the interest of justice.