O Romeo Delivers Style Over Substance: Shahid Kapoor Shines in Vishal Bhardwaj’s Uneven Gangster Romance

Shahid Kapoor reunites with Vishal Bhardwaj after eight years in O Romeo, a stylish yet uneven tale of love and revenge in Mumbai’s 1995 underworld. While performances and visuals captivate, predictable storytelling prevents it from matching Haider and Kaminey.

O Romeo: Overview

The Story & What Works

Set in 1995 Mumbai, contract killer Ustara (Shahid Kapoor) works for officer Ismail Khan (Nana Patekar). When Afshan (Triptii Dimri) seeks revenge for her husband’s murder by gangster Jalal (Avinash Tiwary), Ustara falls for her and accepts the violent mission.

Shahid’s Performance: Shahid delivers career-defining work as Ustara—jagged, broken, dangerously quiet, balancing explosive rage with haunting silences.

Triptii’s Haunting Grace: After Qala and Bulbbul, Triptii shines as vulnerable yet resilient Afshan, conveying devastation through controlled expressions.

Strong Support: Avinash Tiwary brings intensity as villain Jalal. Nana Patekar, Farida Jalal (profanity-loving grandmother), and Hussain Dalal add memorable moments.

Visual Poetry: Bhardwaj crafts stunning sequences where romance unfolds slowly, violence feels mystical. Ben Bernhard’s cinematography and Gulzar’s poetry elevate Bollywood gangster cinema.

Where It Falters

Predictable Second Half: After a stylish first half with dark humor and action, the narrative loses grip. Unnecessary stretching, convenient flashback twists, and 178-minute runtime hurt momentum.

Lacks Emotional Depth: Despite poetic frames, the screenplay misses Bhardwaj’s trademark emotional resonance. The softness-brutality balance doesn’t fully succeed.

Genre Confusion: Mixing gangster action, romance, and revenge creates tonal inconsistency.

Critical Consensus

Most critics rated 2.5/5 stars: Indian Express called it “high on style, low on substance,” India Today noted “uneven screenplay,” The Hindu said “Shahid soars, Bhardwaj struggles,” and Moneycontrol described it as “impressive outside, disappointing inside.”

Final Verdict

Released February 13 alongside Shanaya Kapoor’s Tu Yaa Main for Valentine’s weekend, the “A”-certified film offers stunning visuals and powerful performances but lacks cohesive storytelling.

Fans expecting Haider or Kaminey might be disappointed. However, shedding those expectations makes O Romeo watchable as a stylish gangster romance—beautiful but not unforgettable.

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