Vishal Bhardwaj On Why He Can’t Make A Film Like Haider Today

Vishal Bhardwaj, most known for his Shakespeare-inspired films, has continuously produced projects that have risen in prominence over time, becoming cultural touchstones of contemporary Indian cinema. At the trailer launch for his new film O’Romeo, Vishal said that in today’s cinematic world, he could not make a film like Haider again.

When asked how the last decade has radically affected the Hindi cinema business, particularly from the perspective of corporate engagement, the filmmaker said, “I think it was fine when corporates were there. But now, ever since the OTT platforms came in, even that balance has started to be lost. It’s not that I ever had a problem with corporates, in fact, I made Haider in 2014, but I don’t think I can even make a ‘H’

of a film like Haider in today’s time. I have never had any issues with corporates.”

Vishal Bhardwaj On Changing O Romeo Script

Vishal Bhardwaj also discussed O’Romeo and stated that it was a project he had been preparing for nearly a decade, but it just recently came to fruition as his vision for the picture developed over time. His view kept changing and he continued rewriting the script drafts. He said, “It felt like this was not for me. But there was always a seed of the love story that kept drawing me back. So, this is not the same script I originally intended to make; it’s a completely new script.”

At the trailer launch, Vishal Bhardwaj also spoke candidly about censorship, language, and how cinema represents society, emphasising that he does not believe in sanitising expletives in movies. Vishal explained the film’s emotional core, saying it goes beyond violence and harsh language. He said, “It’s a love story with a violent background, but in its DNA, it’s a love story. It’s an unrequited love story of this character, Ustara.”

O Romeo – Cast

O Romeo is scheduled to be released in theatres on February 13, 2026. The film stars Shahid Kapoor in the lead role, alongside Triptii Dimri, Nana Patekar, Tamannaah Bhatia, Vikrant Massey, Avinash Tiwary and Disha Patani.