Hussain Ustara’s Daughter Alleges ‘False Portrayal’ in O’Romeo, Seeks Film Ban

O’Romeo Controversy: Hussain Ustara’s Daughter Moves Court, Demands Film Ban

Days before the release of O’Romeo, Sanober Shaikh, daughter of late gangster Hussain Ustara, has approached a Mumbai civil court seeking a permanent injunction against the Shahid Kapoor-starrer. In her plea, she alleged that the film is an unauthorised biopic of her father and presents a false and damaging portrayal of his life, according to Mid-Day.

Filed through advocate D V Saroj, the lawsuit names producer Sajid Nadiadwala and director Vishal Bhardwaj, claiming the film was made “for commercial and monetary gain without obtaining prior consent.” Sanober argued that portraying her father as a gangster would cause irreparable harm to her and her children. The plea also highlighted that Hussain Ustara had assisted law enforcement in Mumbai and should not be depicted negatively.

This is not the first legal step taken by Sanober. Last month, she reportedly sent a legal notice to the filmmakers following the release of the O’Romeo teaser, seeking compensation of Rs. 2 crore for the alleged misrepresentation. Speaking to CNN-News18, she said, “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. The problem is how his image is portrayed in the film.”

Responding to the allegations, Vishal Bhardwaj said at the trailer launch that the film is based on the book Mafia Queens of Mumbai by Hussain Zaidi. “I took the rights of that story and made a film. Characters are from the book, but there are fictional aspects as well. I do not think I needed permission from the family,” Bhardwaj added.

With the release date approaching, the legal dispute is likely to intensify attention on the film and its portrayal of real-life figures from Mumbai’s underworld.