Shahid Kapoor’s O Romeo Faces Legal Stay Request 

The daughter of the informant, Hussain Ustara, sues to stop the release of Shahid Kapoor’s O Romeo.

O Romeo Faces Legal Stay

Is a man’s life his own, or does it belong to the studio that buys the script?

This is the question currently haunting the production of O Romeo, the upcoming Shahid Kapoor vehicle directed by Vishal Bhardwaj.

Just days before its scheduled February 13th release, Sanober Shaikh—daughter of the legendary Mumbai informant Hussain “Ustara” Shaikh—has filed a lawsuit to stop the film in its tracks. She isn’t just asking for a credit; she is claiming that the film is an unauthorized raid on her family’s private history.

The lawsuit, filed in a Mumbai civil court, targets a powerhouse trio: Nadiadwala, Bhardwaj, and Zaidi. It alleges that O’ Romeo is a thinly veiled biopic that “besmirches” the character of a man who risked his life to help law enforcement dismantle the D-Company.

The Battle Over “Post-Mortem” Privacy

Most entertainment legal battles focus on copyright. This one is about Personality Rights.

In India, the legal landscape regarding the lives of the deceased is notoriously thin. While a person’s right to privacy generally expires with them, the “right to publicity” and the protection of a family’s emotional well-being are emerging as powerful tools for heirs.

Sanober Shaikh argues that her father’s life story is a “personal right” belonging to his family.

The makers of O’ Romeo are using the standard industry shield: they claim the film is entirely fictional. However, in the age of digital marketing, this defense is getting harder to maintain. If the promos and teasers use specific anecdotes, visual cues, or historical markers that lead a reasonable person to identify the character as Hussain Ustara, the “fiction” label becomes a legal fiction.

The court must now decide if the film is a creative work of art or a commercial exploitation of a private citizen’s life.

The Biopic Blunders

Before you assume the family is just looking for a payday, consider the specific nuances of Indian privacy law that often catch the public—and sometimes filmmakers—off guard.

• The “Informant” Status Changes Everything. Usually, public records are fair game. But an informant’s life involves state secrets and police cooperation. If a film depicts these interactions inaccurately, it doesn’t just hurt a reputation; it can potentially endanger surviving family members or compromise the methods of intelligence agencies.
• A “Negative” Portrayal is a Legal Trigger. Many believe that as long as you don’t use the real name, you can portray a character however you want. However, Sanober’s lawsuit specifically mentions the “mental and emotional well-being” of her children. In Indian courts, “family honor” carries significant weight, and judges are often sympathetic to the argument that a film could cause “permanent harm” to a family’s social standing.
• Consent isn’t just about the person; it’s about the profit. The lawsuit highlights that the film was produced for “monetary gain.” When a studio makes millions off a story, the “right to tell a story” is often weighed against the “right to profit from one’s own identity.”

The Verdict Ahead

With the hearing set for February 6th, the clock is ticking for both sides. Historically, Bollywood studios avoid total bans by offering a “financial settlement” or adding a prominent, multi-page disclaimer at the start of the film.

But for the daughter of Hussain Ustara, the goal seems to be more than a disclaimer—it’s about who gets to define her father’s legacy: the family who knew him, or the director who wants to turn his life into a cinematic spectacle.

Key Takeaways:

• Sanober Shaikh has sued to halt the February 13th release of O’ Romeo.
• The lawsuit claims the film is an unauthorized biopic of her father, Hussain Ustara.
• The filmmakers maintain the story is fictional, despite similarities noted in promos.
• The Mumbai Civil Court will hear the case on February 6th to decide on a possible stay.