O Romeo X Review: Do Shahid Kapoor and Triptii Dimri’s Powerful Performances Outshine the Mixed Reactions?

The film O Romeo, directed by Vishal Bhardwaj and starring Shahid Kapoor and Triptii Dimri, hit theaters on February 13, 2026, which matched the Valentine’s Week festivities. The film presents a gritty romantic action drama, which has created high public anticipation for its upcoming release, as fans showed up at advance booking events while social media platforms became active with initial audience responses. The creative partnership between Shahid Kapoor and Bhardwaj proves their artistic connection because they continue to make successful films together after their previous projects, Kaminey and Haider.

Inspired by Real Events and Literary Roots

O Romeo draws inspiration from a chapter in Mafia Queens of Mumbai by Hussain Zaidi, grounding its narrative in the murky underbelly of Mumbai’s crime world. The film channels real-life influences into a stylized cinematic experience, blending fact with fiction to craft a gripping tale of loyalty, betrayal, and survival. Bhardwaj’s direction uses the original material in its natural state to build a setting that combines real-life elements with intense dramatic moments.

The Plot: Revenge Entwined With Romance

The story revolves around Afsha, who suffers from the loss of her husband to murder. She wants to take revenge, so she chooses Jalal as her target and hires contract killer Ustara to execute her revenge mission. The chaotic violence and power conflicts create a situation where Afsha and Ustara develop an unanticipated relationship that combines elements of revenge with elements of human weakness. O’ Romeo contains themes of love, lust, and revenge, which demonstrate how love has the power to change a person’s entire being.

Performances Steal the Spotlight

The O Romeo reviews dedicated their primary focal point to praising the magnetic performances that Shahid Kapoor and Triptii Dimri delivered. Many viewers lauded Shahid because he displayed intense energy and emotional depth together with his captivating action sequences, which they considered his best recent performance. Triptii Dimri’s performance of Afshan received widespread acclaim because she achieved an emotional connection through her depiction of both fragile and strong-willed character traits. The film received positive feedback for its layered ensemble because supporting actors Nana Patekar and Avinash Tiwary and other performers made valuable contributions to the project.

Avinash Tiwary’s Fierce Transformation Steals Attention

Shahid Kapoor leads the story, while Avinash Tiwary presents his exceptional transformation as the first major achievement of the film. Jalal displays his terrifying presence through his dangerous appearance, which includes his secret head tattoo. The antagonist’s new terrifying appearance delivers psychological depth to the character because O Romeo exceeds typical commercial cinema standards.

Audience Reactions: Polarized and Passionate

The strong performances received mixed social media reactions. Some viewers found fault with its script and narrative structure because they thought it delivered less engagement than they had expected. Some fans of the movie appreciated its emotional impact, but other viewers found some story elements to be both obvious and slow. 

Balancing Action, Romance, and Grit

Vishal Bhardwaj’s unique filmmaking approach demonstrates itself through the film’s dark visual design and precise dialogue delivery and its powerful musical score. The film creates a realistic experience through its old-fashioned appearance and its intense action sequences, which combine deep love stories with realistic street-level conflicts. Some people believe the movie will achieve box office success because they compare it to Shahid’s previous successful films, while others think the storytelling fails to deliver suitable content for viewers who prefer lighter shows.

Verdict: A Film That Divides Opinions

O Romeo stands as a daring movie that has received intense reactions from viewers. The film achieves a lasting impact through its combination of strong acting, emotional depth, and its distinctive visual style, although some viewers found its story development and screenplay to be unsatisfactory.