Parijat Ghosh 
O’ Romeo, directed by Vishal Bhardwaj and starring Shahid Kapoor and Triptii Dimri, has opened to mixed reviews from critics and audiences. Some praise it as a bold, intense crime romance. Others feel it doesn’t quite live up to the expectations set by Bhardwaj’s earlier classics like Haider and Kaminey. Let’s break down the responses by theme so you get the real critical picture without the hype.
Plot: Love, Crime, and 1990s Mumbai
Based on Hussain Zaidi’s Mafia Queens of Mumbai, the story unfolds in the 1990s underworld. Ustara lives a double life. He is a feared contract killer and womanizer. Secretly, he works for an intelligence officer while enjoying luxury and notoriety. His world shifts when he meets Afsha, a distressed woman who seeks his help. Their relationship pulls him into emotional conflict, gang wars, and a violent power struggle. The narrative blends romance with crime drama, exploring how love destabilizes a hardened gangster.
What Critics Are Saying
Most reviews agree on one thing: Shahid Kapoor steals the show. Critics say his portrayal of Ustara. A violent underworld killer with unexpected emotional depth. It is intense, commanding, and one of his strongest in years.
Triptii Dimri also earns positive notes. Many reviewers highlight her mix of strength, vulnerability, and quiet power, especially in scenes that ask her character to shift between grief and resolve. Supporting actors like Nana Patekar and Vikrant Massey also get mentions, though some reviews say they were underused.
Story and Screenplay Get Mixed Marks
This is where critics differ the most. Positive reviews say Bhardwaj blends romance with violence with flair. One review praises the pacing after the interval, crisp action sequences, and emotional beats that keep viewers engaged through most of the second half. But several major outlets point out clear flaws:
- The screenplay feels uneven. Many critics think the first half drags, and the emotional transformation in the romance doesn’t build naturally.
- Some feel the second half loses steam, and the finale doesn’t deliver enough dramatic payoff after a long runtime.
- A few reviewers state that the villain never feels truly terrifying, and subplots could have been tighter.
Overall, this has led to ratings mostly in the 2.5 to 3.5 out of 5 range, with comments like high on style, low on emotional weight.
Audience Reactions: Love It or Leave It?
On social media and review boards, reactions fall into three camps:
Fans Who Loved It – Some viewers call O’ Romeo gripping and emotional, with twists that keep them hooked. They say the action and romance both work well, and they enjoyed the strong synergy between Shahid and Triptii.
Mixed Crowd – A bigger group says the film is stylish and intense but struggles with pacing. Many note that the first half feels slow, and the runtime feels long, even though the performances make it worth watching in theatres.
Critics of the Story – Some online opinions are blunt, “Weak script, weak story”, “Doesn’t deliver the emotional weight promised”, and “More style than substance.”
So while audience polling is positive overall, there’s real division about whether it’s Vishal Bhardwaj’s return to form or a stylish misfire.
O’ Romeo may not fully satisfy fans of Bhardwaj’s deeper classics, but it still offers strong acting, stylish execution, and enough intensity to make it worth a look if you enjoy dark romances with violence and grit.
Whether you leave the theatre cheering or debating is honestly part of the fun. And, that’s the current review verdict.
But, how did you like O’Romeo? Feel free to tell us in the comments below. For more content, stay tuned. As usual, like, subscribe, and share our articles as we here are trying to build a community of people High on Cinema!
