Who Is Hussain Ustra? Meet Dawood Ibrahim's Rival Who Allegedly Inspired Shahid Kapoor-Triptii Dimri's O Romeo

The teaser for Shahid Kapoor and Vishal Bhardwaj’s O Romeo finally dropped online on Saturday, leaving netizens thrilled. It introduces the star-studded cast, including Triptii Dimri, Nana Patekar, Vikrant Massey, Tamannaah Bhatia, Avinash Tiwary, Disha Patani, and Farida Jalal. The film has been creating buzz for some time, with reports suggesting it is based on the real-life story of Hussain Ustra, a notorious rival of Dawood Ibrahim. After the teaser confirmed the film is “inspired by true events,” fans began speculating whether Shahid is indeed portraying the Mumbai gangster. Here’s everything we know!Shahid Kapoor As Ustra In O RomeoAccording to the team, Shahid plays "a hitman who develops feelings for Afsha (Triptii Dimri's character),

Ustara is drawn into a game of betrayal, love and vengeance. Shahid’s menacing and killer look with a bold avatar brings the depth and passion that is the highlight of O’Romeo."

The details and the character’s name hint that he is portraying Hussain, who aided Sapna Didi after her husband was killed by Dawood.Who Was Hussain Ustra?Hussain Ustara was a Mumbai gangster who was known for his feud with Dawood Ibrahim. Vishal Bhardwaj has reportedly written the script inspired by Ustara’s life.Earlier, writer S Hussain Zaidi of Dongri to Dubai fame had shared insights about Ustara in The Source. His real name was Hussain Sheikh. He got the nickname “Ustara” at a young age after a violent fight in which he left a deep, sharp cut on his rival with the help of his scalpel. "It is said that a long incision had been made from shoulder to bottom," Zaidi wrote and added, "The doctors were stunned to see such a cut. They did not understand how to operate."More About O RomeoThe movie has been bankrolled by Nadiadwala Grandson Entertainment. It releases in theatres ahead of Valentine’s Day 2026 on February 13.