O' Romeo begins with intrigue but quickly leaves you wondering what it truly wants to be — a love story, a revenge drama, a gangster saga, or a psychological study of a man battling his inner demons. Directed by Vishal Bhardwaj, the film carries his signature poetic frames and mood-driven storytelling. However, this time, the indulgence feels heavier than the impact.
The first half is electrified by Shahid Kapoor as Romeo Avtar aka Ustra. His blood-soaked entries and volatile energy dominate the screen. As a gangster who doubles as an IB aide, Shahid delivers a magnetic performance reminiscent of his darker roles in Kaminey, Haider, and Kabir Singh — yet he manages to make Romeo distinct. These sequences are where the film truly thrives.
Triptii Dimri enters as Afsha with quiet intensity and a revenge motive tied to Jamal, a feared gangster played by Avinash Tiwary. While Jamal is introduced as Mumbai’s ultimate kingpin, the menace feels underwritten, and the character never fully embodies the threat he promises on paper.
The second half shifts focus to the romance between Romeo and Afsha, and this is where the screenplay weakens. Romeo’s transformation from a reckless, emotionally detached man to someone willing to sacrifice everything for love feels abrupt and insufficiently built. As a result, the emotional payoff lacks conviction, and the audience struggles to root wholeheartedly for the protagonist.
The Spain sequences are visually stunning but dramatically underwhelming. A bullfight sequence meant to symbolize the hero-villain arc fails to deliver the anticipated crescendo. Instead of an explosive climax, the film ends on a subdued note.
The supporting cast — including Vikrant Massey, Tamannaah Bhatia, Nana Patekar, Farida Jalal, and Aruna Irani — brings immense talent, but the stretched narrative leaves many characters underexplored.
At nearly three hours,O’ Romeofeels like a novel that lingers too long. The songs are melodious but excessive, adding to the indulgent pacing rather than driving the story forward.
Visually rich and occasionally brilliant,O’ Romeoworks as a mood-driven, one-time watch. But from a filmmaker like Vishal Bhardwaj, audiences expect not just poetry, but power — and here, the balance tilts more toward style than substance.
