Give him characters that bruise, that unravel, and that reside in the grey area. Those are the parts Shahid Kapoor looks for. The actor often finds them in Vishal Bhardwaj’s movies, as he has in O’Romeo.

Talking to mid-day, ahead of the film’s release, Kapoor said, “Our sensibilities and the way we look at characters [are similar]. Working with Vishal sir four times is like returning to a space that pushes you to think differently every time. Both of us have evolved, and that growth reflects in how we approach a character. I’ve always gravitated towards the grey, and with O’Romeo, I didn’t feel the need to soften anything.”

Vishal Bhardwaj

From Haider (2014) to Kabir Singh (2019), Kapoor has played men who cross moral lines. With O’Romeo’s trailer depicting him as a violent man, there could have been a worry that the audience may not root for Ustara, his character. Doesn’t playing unlikeable people contradict an actor’s innate need to be liked? “If you start worrying about being liked, you will begin adjusting things,” he smiled, before adding, “Once you commit to the character, that stops mattering. Ustara is written a certain way, and my job is to serve that honestly. I hope people see the honesty with which he has been played.” 

O’Romeo, also starring Triptii Dimri, has been discussed for its excessive violence. When asked if artistes feel damaged by such violent roles, he reflected, “The physical aspect is demanding. But the bigger challenge is understanding the character’s emotional journey that leads him to those moments. You try to approach that with sensitivity and responsibility.” 

Four films with Vishal Bhardwaj

‘Kaminey’ 2009; ‘Haider’ 2014; ‘Rangoon’ 2017; ‘O’Romeo’ 2026