The daughter of Hussain Ustara has criticised the makers of the upcoming Shahid Kapoor film O’Romeo, saying the portrayal of her father in the narrative is incorrect and unfair to his legacy.
Sanober Shaikh, Ustara’s daughter, has taken legal steps by issuing a notice to the filmmakers, claiming they have distorted facts in a way that paints her father in a negative light. O’Romeo, directed by Vishal Bhardwaj, stars Shahid Kapoor and Triptii Dimri and is scheduled to be released on February 13, 2026.
Allegations of Misrepresentation
Shaikh has been vocal about her concerns, insisting that the film’s teaser and promotional material appear to depict elements of her father’s life that she says are inaccurate or misleading.
“They are claiming and showing wrong things about my father,” she said, explaining that the family’s objection centres on how Ustara is being characterised. Shaikh added that her father was not a gangster, but instead took on crime figures in ways that she believes have been misrepresented. She added, “O Romeo is based on baba. The teaser states that the film is based on a true story. I want to ask them, who’s the person the film is based on. My father wasn’t a gangster. Hussain Ustara helped a lot of people. He wanted to cleanse the city and remove gangsters. He wasn’t a criminal. You won’t find any criminal record. The problem is how is image is portrayed in the film."
She pointed out that the film appears to show a romantic angle between her father’s character and a woman depicted on screen. a relationship she says did not exist in real life. “My father had trained Sapna didi. She was like a sister to him … but as per the film, they are showing a romantic angle, which is absolutely wrong,” Shaikh said, emphasising that the pair’s real-life bond was one of mentorship and closeness, not romance.
She also claimed, "Sapna didi had no one. She was alone when her husband was killed. She has no children. She went everywhere asking for help, to cleanse the city off crime, but it was only my baba who helped her. Both of them worked against criminals. Unka tareeka galat tha but this also happened 28 years ago. As his family, our concern is ki unki image kharab ho rahi hai. This isn’t a matter of money. In my first notice, there’s no mention of it at all."
Legal Notice and Family Response
Sanober Shaikh has confirmed that she has sent a legal notice but refuted claims of demanding Rs. 2 crore. “They are claiming and showing wrong things about my father. They are saying that we threatened them and asked for Rs. 2 crore. That’s wrong. They are making such claims for publicity of the film. We have sent them a legal notice,” Sanober told Hindustan Times.
She also denied claims that her family issued threats to the filmmakers, clarifying that the notice was a formal legal step, not intimidation.
“We have never been in the public space and are not doing this for money or fame. Ever since the news of a film based on him went public, our family has been harassed,” she told Hindustan Times in an interview.
Who Was Hussain Ustara?
Hussain Ustara was a Mumbai-based underworld figure known for his clashes with organised crime syndicates, including rivalries with the network led by Dawood Ibrahim. Although O’Romeo’s makers have not officially confirmed that the film is a biographical account, its earlier working title (Arjun Ustara) and promotional references have fuelled speculation that it draws inspiration from real underworld events.
As of now, there has been no official statement from producer Sajid Nadiadwala, director Vishal Bhardwaj or Shahid Kapoor addressing the specific claims of misrepresentation. The film’s production team has indicated that O’Romeo is not a biopic or documentary but a work of fiction inspired by broader themes, distancing it from direct factual retelling.
