O`Romeo: Hussain Ustara`s daughter seeks ban on film`s release

Daughter of gangster Hussain Ustara, Sanober Shaikh, on Monday sought a permanent injunction against the release of the upcoming Hindi film O` Romeo from a Mumbai civil court. She claimed that the movie was an unauthorised biopic of her late father and that it portrays his life falsely.

Hussain Ustara`s daughter files suit against O`Romeo

Sanober Shaikh, the daughter of Hussain Shaikh (popularly known as Hussain Ustara), recently filed a civil suit against the producer of the film, Sajid Nadiadwala, its director, Vishal Bhardwaj and journalist-author Hussain Zaidi before the civil court. The court is expected to hear the matter on February 6.

The lawsuit claimed that Nadiadwala and Bhardwaj are "involved in the production and direction of a film based on the biography of her late father". "The film O` Romeo was being produced with the intent of commercial and monetary gain and no prior consent had been obtained from the plaintiff (Sanober Shaikh)," the lawsuit, filed through advocate D V Saroj, claimed.

Sanober further emphasised that the movie`s theme is entirely based on her father, who has been `portrayed as a gangster." She stated that she "feared" that the movie`s release would not only cause "irreparable injury" to her "but also to my children, who have every right to live in the world in peace and in a good atmosphere".

"The release of the movie containing false portrayal would have a serious implication on the plaintiffs` family members," the suit argued. Sanober Shaikh insisted her father contributed to preventing crimes across India, particularly in Mumbai, and helped police and intelligence sleuths in tackling criminals.

She alleged that the "defendants are exploiting a human tragedy for commercial gain". The movie "contains wrongful appropriation" of Hussain Shaikh for "private gain" and its release would "besmirch the character of the dead person" and destroy a reputation built over decades, the lawsuit stated.

Earlier notices sent to O`Romeo team

Notably, she had earlier sent notices to the makers. In thier replies to legal notices leading up to the suit, defendants Bhardwaj and Nadiadwala Grandson Entertainment vehemently denied her claims, stating, "O` Romeo is purely a work of fiction".

However, the plaintiff (Sanober Shaikh) has submitted several materials with her suit to support her claim of a direct link between the film and her father. It includes link of a podcast interview where a former police officer reportedly connects the film`s narrative with Ustara. She has urged the court to grant a permanent order of injunction restraining the defendants (filmmakers) from releasing the movie in theatres, television channels, any OTT platforms on February 13 or any day thereafter in the "interest of justice". 

The film, starring Bollywood actor Shahid Kapoor in the role of Ustara, is based on Zaidi`s book "Mafia Queens of Mumbai". The action thriller is slated to hit theatres on February 13.

(With inputs from PTI)