The court heard the matter on February 7 and ruled that the right to privacy is a personal right that does not survive after an individual’s death. In its order, the court observed that such rights cannot be treated as inheritable family property and cannot be invoked by legal heirs to restrain artistic expression. It further held that personal rights cannot be used to block a film or curb creative freedom.
The court also took note of the disclaimer issued by the filmmakers, which clearly states that O Romeo is a work of fiction and that its characters are imaginary. Any resemblance to real persons, living or dead, is coincidental, the disclaimer says. The court accepted this clarification, noting that disclaimers are a recognised safeguard in cinematic storytelling.
Questioning the timing of the petition, the court pointed out that O Romeo was announced in 2024 and had been in the public domain for several months. “Why was the objection raised only days before the release?” the court asked, observing that last-minute legal challenges can cause substantial financial losses to producers, distributors, and others associated with the film industry.
The petition had argued that Shahid Kapoor’s character was based on Hussain Ustara and that the portrayal would harm the family’s reputation. The court, however, found no legal basis to support the claim, reiterating that reputational or privacy rights of a deceased person cannot be enforced posthumously to stop a film’s release.
Directed by Vishal Bhardwaj, O Romeo features Shahid Kapoor and Triptii Dimri in lead roles. The ensemble cast includes Nana Patekar, Farida Jalal, Tamannaah Bhatia, and Avinash Tiwary. Bhardwaj is known for acclaimed films such as Maqbool, Omkara, Haider, Kaminey, and 7 Khoon Maaf.
The film is adapted from noted writer Hussain Zaidi’s book Mafia Queens of Mumbai, with Shahid Kapoor portraying a character inspired by a gangster figure. With the legal hurdle cleared, the makers are proceeding with the release as planned, bringing relief to the production team and distributors.
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