Plot
The narrative revolves around Ustara, a feared anti-hero whose name comes from his weapon of choice — a barber's razor that he handles with deadly precision. Once part of a powerful gang, he is forced into exile after killing a don's brother. Now operating in the shadows, he serves as a covert operative for Intelligence Bureau officer Ismail Khan, who assigns him missions to neutralise threats to the nation. The film kicks off with a gripping sequence in which Ustara storms a cinema hall to eliminate a film financier linked to criminal networks, taking down waves of bodyguards using only his razor.
A habitual womaniser, Ustara's hardened exterior begins to crack when he meets Afshan Qureshi, a gentle yet determined widow bent on avenging her husband Mehmood Qureshi's murder. She hires him to eliminate four men responsible for the crime. 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.
One of Afshan's targets is Jayant Pathare, a corrupt police officer who is also a trained classical vocalist. Music weaves subtly through the story — Afshan, daughter of a Gwalior gharana classical singer and gifted with a soulful voice herself, shares this artistic connection with both Pathare and Ustara. It is her voice that first softens the edges of the razor-wielding assassin.
Looming large in the backdrop is Jalal, a mafia overlord who controls the Mumbai underworld from Spain while running an expansive drug empire tied to wider geopolitical forces. Both Ustara and Afshan have compelling reasons to pursue him.
Reception
O'Romeo received mixed reviews from critics, with praise for the performance of Shahid Kapoor, cinematography and action sequences, but criticism for the story and screenplay.
Kashvi Raj Singh of News18 rated the film 4 stars out of 5 and wrote "In a time of blood fatigue in films, it is easy to dismiss O’Romeo. Had it come before films like Animal and Dhurandhar, it could have been better for the film. Yes, O’Romeo has its share of gore, but it is also different, and it deserves attention. It combines both good performance and technical brilliance." [24] Dhaval Roy of The Times Of India rated the film 3.5 stars out of 5 and wrote "Despite frequent pacing issues that demand patience, O' Romeo is worth watching for its performances, atmosphere and cinematic brilliance." [25] Saibal Chatterjee of NDTV rated the film 3.5 stars out of 5 and wrote "O'Romeo is at once a love story, a revenge saga, and a crime drama. Every seemingly conflicting strand merges with the others without the lines separating (or linking) them being unduly overt. Rarely does a Hindi action film use the spirit of music and poetry to buttress emotional turmoil, physical strife, and excessive violence to the extent that this one does." [26]
Lachmi Deb Roy of Firstpost rated the film 3.5 stars out of 5 and wrote"O’ Romeo is undoubtedly a complete massy entertainer, but the script never thins down. A big shout-out to Vishal Bharadwaj for giving such a solid film with quirky dialogues, brilliant music, and engaging performances by each of the actors." [27] Devesh Sharma of Filmfare rated the film 3.5 stars out of 5 and wrote "In the end, the film is held together by its performances. The actors commit with such conviction that they make even the wildest flourishes feel momentarily plausible. You may roll your eyes at the excess, but you will not be bored. Like any good opera, it demands surrender. And if you give in, it rewards you with spectacle, passion and performances that linger long after the curtain falls." [28] A critic for Bollywood Hungama rated the film 3 stars out of 5 and wrote "On the whole, O'ROMEO delivers several well-made moments and strong performances from the lead cast. However, the uneven writing and the ordinary soundtrack prevent it from creating the kind of impact it aims for." [29]
Rishabh Suri of Hindustan Times rated the film 3 stars out of 5 and wrote "Overall, O’Romeo has moments that remind you why Bhardwaj remains one of our most distinctive filmmakers, but they are scattered across a narrative that loses emotional clarity along the way. Despite Shahid’s wild energy and a few stylish flourishes, the film struggles to find its emotional core. It is watchable, even fun in parts, but rarely affecting in the way Bhardwaj’s best work is. You walk out entertained in flashes... and strangely unmoved." [30] Tanmayi Savadi of Times Now rated the film 3 stars out of 5 and wrote "O’ Romeo isn’t a bad film nor a masterpiece. It has a lot of loose ends and unexplained connections. Due to this, it becomes difficult to join dots and feel characters and their purposes. With excellent performances, and Vishal’s ability to tell a fairly engaging story for 3 hours, O’ Romeo can be watched with loved ones and parents, only if violence, abuses and bloodshed are palatable." [31]
Shubhra Gupta of The Indian Express rated the film 2.5 out 5 stars and stated that the film is "high on style and swag, low on substance". [32] Sana Farzeen of India Today rated 2.5/5 stars, saying "Shahid Kapoor-Vishal Bhardwaj fail to recreate Haider, Kaminey magic" "despite poetic frames and intense performances, the film struggles with an uneven screenplay and an underwhelming emotional pay-off." [33] Sakshi Salil Chavan of Outlook India rated with 2.5/5 stars and wrote "The film does not redefine the gangster saga, yet it offers sufficient spectacle and emotional voltage to warrant a theatrical viewing. The final act regains urgency and culminates in a rousing yet foreseeable crescendo. With a more disciplined edit though, ‘O’ Romeo’ might have achieved the narrative stature its ambition seeks." [34]
Anindita Mukhopadhyay of India TV rated 2.5/5 stars and wrote "What begins with promise slowly loses grip, especially in the second half where the writing weakens and the emotional impact fades. It looks beautiful, it sounds good, but it doesn’t stay with you the way it should. It’s not a bad film. It’s just not a fully satisfying one either." [35] Abhishek Srivastava of Moneycontrol rated 2.5/5 stars and wrote "‘O’ Romeo' is like a grand building: impressive from the outside but not what you expect inside. This is Bhardwaj’s most commercial attempt, and it both succeeds and misfires. The film is worth watching mainly for Shahid Kapoor, who owns the role completely. While the story and pacing falter, the visual style, action sequences, and quirky moments keep it watchable." [36] Mukund Setlur of Deccan Herald rated the film 1.5 stars out of 5 and wrote "There are some brilliant scenes, but for a cinematic nightmare of three hours, a few scenes are not worth the time. Some songs are likely to become chartbusters but mar the pace of the film! It looks like Bhardwaj was at crossroads while making directorial choices — to tell a story to appeal to the masses and in that process has failed to play to his strengths." [37]
Anuj Kumar of The Hindu noted "Shahid Kapoor soars, Vishal Bhardwaj struggles in this meandering romantic action drama". [38] Rahul Desai of The Hollywood Reporter India wrote that the film "fails to make a dent in the Bombay gangster-epic landscape". [39]
