O Romeo Review: Fair romantic action thriller that impress partially
O Romeo Movie Rating: 3 Stars
Watched O Romeo movie in Hindi in Cinema. Let’s focus on the complete details, story, positive/negatives and at last my view on this movie.
Cast: Shahid Kapoor, Triptii Dimri, Nana Patekar, Avinash Tiwary, Tamannaah Bhatia, Disha Patani, Farida Jalal and Vikrant Massey.
Director: Vishal Bhardwaj
Release Date: 13th February 2026 in cinemas
Story: Set in Mumbai in 1995, the story revolves around Ustara (Shahid Kapoor) who is a womanizer and a contract killer. He works for Police Inspector Khan (Nana Patekar) and takes money from him to eliminate criminals. One day, a woman named Afsha (Tripti Dimri) approaches him and seeking revenge for her husband Mehmood (Vikrant Massey) death.
She asks him to eliminate four people for her a lawyer named Anjum Ansari (Resh Lamba), a cop named Pathare (Rahul Deshpande), underworld don Shankar (Rohit Pathak) and their leader and dreaded gangster Jalal (Avinash Tiwary) who was once Ustra’s partner. They share a troubled past. Jalal is now living in Spain but has full control over the gangs and politics of Mumbai.
Though he initially brushes off her request, Ustara gradually comes to understand the depth of her grief and resolve and unexpectedly finds himself drawn to her. What happens next? Why does Afsha end up staying with Ustara? Does he fall in love with her? What happens in the end? The film has the answers.
Positives
1. Performances
2. Cinematography
3. Story
4. Climax
5. Dialogues
Negatives
1. Length
2. Direction
3. Uneven Screenplay
4. Music
Durgesh Tiwary’s View: When I watched the trailer of this film planned to watch this movie on its release date as loved the trailer and also liked this duo earlier films. Based on a chapter from Hussain Zaidi’s book Mafia Queens of Mumbai, O’Romeo draws inspiration from real-life events. It follows Afsha as she sets out to avenge her husband’s death at the hands of Jalal roping in contract killer Ustara. However, their path is marked by bloodshed and tragedy, even as love begins to bloom.
O Romeo story is inspired by true events. It has a lot of masalas and has been written in a very engaging and interesting style. His screenplay has strokes of brilliance, but sadly, it isn’t without its share of rough edges. The drama has a number of light moments, romance, lot of action, and a dash of emotions too. The comedy is beautifully integrated in the tension-ridden drama too, besides being a part of the tension-free portions. The film plods in the first half, but Bhardwaj’s signature cinematic flair is visible throughout. It’s visually arresting and visceral, and no one can marry crime, poetry, and passion the way Bhardwaj does. Eccentric set pieces, such as an abandoned ship or a bullfight ring, and color palettes win immediate notices. The frequent use of red complements the bloodbath, but the tonality seamlessly shifts to greys and blues to denote death like in the sequence where Ustara and his friends are attacked in Nepal or Jalal’s wife Rabia’s miscarriage. Ben Bernhard showcases his cinematographic finesse early on with an elaborate action sequence set to Madhuri Dixit-starrer Dhak Dhak. The track that unfolds in Nepal, the bullfight in Spain, and the masquerade sequence are visually arresting. Bhardwaj’s music adds a rich texture. Hum To Tere Hi Liye The reunites Gulzar, Bhardwaj, and Arijit Singh for a haunting melody. Ishq Ka Fever is catchy despite their rooted energy, do not leave a lasting impression.
Shahid Kapoor has once again shown his acting capabilities but not playing but living the life of a 90s Mumbai gangster. The lingo, his accent, his mannerism and Shahid have hit the nail when it comes to playing Ustara. For all those who say the Triptii Dimri we fell in love within Bulbul, Laila Majnu and Qala is lost, Afsha will make sure you fall in love with her all over again. Nana Patekar as Inspector Khan is a menace we would love to have in real life. His chemistry with Shahid Kapoor is one of the film’s many highlights. Avinash Tiwary as Jalal is good, we wish he was more menacing thought. Hussain Dalal as Ustara’s right hand man, Chhotu is the ride-or-die friend every one of us hope to have in life. He brings freshness to the narrative and manages to shine despite sharing almost every scene with Shahid. Veteran stars like Farida Jalal and Aruna Irani bring their immense experience to the action drama and show just why the audience today also love them. Disha Patani, Tamannah Bhatia and Vikrant Massey are wasted in their limited roles. Even the minor characters deliver solid performances, and the camaraderie between the gangsters feels organic, providing some of the film’s funniest moments.
However, the film is not without its flaws. The film is a blend of gangster, action, and romance elements, which leaves the viewers confused about the genre. A few illogical scenes weaken the narrative. The narrative gains momentum after the interval, and at nearly three hours, the film feels overlong. The pace slackens too often, with certain stretches feeling indulgent and testing the viewer’s patience. Apart from the action, the narration feels flat. The track between the lead pair becomes boring at times. Though there are many actors, their roles don’t get enough importance. While the action scenes are stylish, their placement isn’t always effective. The hero-villain face-off could have been better. The songs aren’t very impactful. As a director, Vishal Bhardwaj seems to have put in a lot of effort. However, since the core story is simple, he tries to move it forward by adding action and romance. The screenplay could have been much better. The songs are average, but the background score works well. When Bharadwaj is in the director’s chair, the vision he brings to the screen is compelling. He draws out the best from his actors with a sense of realism that makes the audience empathise with the characters. The emotional depth, combined with a strong screenplay and music that lingers long after you step out of the theatre. Unlike his past exceptional works, this movie settles for the charm of action, heroism, and performance that comes with the over-dramatizations.
Overall movie is a mediocre romantic action thriller that doesn’t impress entirely. Shahid Kapoor’s performance and the stylish action blocks are its biggest strengths. However, weak writing, slow pacing, and unimpressive music hold the film back, and hence it ends up being a below-par watch. You may roll your eyes at the excess, but you will not be bored. And if you give in, it rewards you with spectacle, passion and performances that linger long after the curtain falls. My view on this film Time Pass but if you are a sucker for complex love stories layered with passion, betrayal and violence, this Vishal Bhardwaj rendition is for you.
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