Shahid Kapoor’s O Romeo faces legal notice as Hussain Ustara’s daughter seeks pre-release screening

New Delhi: Shahid Kapoor’s film O Romeo has landed in legal soup. The daughter of Hussain Shaikh popularly known as Hussain Ustara has sent a legal notice to the makers of the film with the copy to CBFC and I &B ministry claiming that she possesses all the statutory rights including commercial, personality and publicity rights to her father’s life story.

In the notice she has stated that the makers have made a biopic on her late father Hussain Shaikh life without any consent or agreement with her. which leads to serious infringement of fundamental right to privacy which includes personality rights and privacy rights which rests with her. Shaikh’s lawyer DV Saroj said, “ she wants a pre-release screening of the film and we have also sought damages of Rs one crore from the makers of the film.”

Sanobar Shaikh, the daughter of Hussain Shaikh is upset with the makers of the film O Romeo, alleging that the film is based on her father’s life and decided to take legal action against the makers.

When told that the makers of the film have refuted her allegation that the film is based on her father’s life. Sanobar said, “These people are denying it. All the videos on the internet are comparing it with my father. We’re totally disturbed and hence we’ve taken legal action.”

When asked if she was aware of it or if the makers tried to reach the family while making the film to which she said, “If anybody had reached out to us regarding the film, we would have stopped them. We would have known what’s being made. We must know if something is made in his life.”

Sanobar also wants to see what is there in the film. She said, “We want to know the truth if the film is based on my father’s life. Our lives are related to him. We would want a pre release screening.”

What does she want to say to Shahid Kapoor who is playing the lead role in the film to which she said,“I respect them all but we’re disturbed with all this. What will we tell people if we don’t know anything? The makers are denying it.”

We just wanted to know what they have made. If the makers are claiming that the film is not based on my Baba’s life, then they have to show it to us. They will have to mention that the film doesn’t have anything related to my father’s life. If the makers don’t agree then we will have to legally demand a stay on the film’s release.”

Sanobar also alleges that a lot of information about her father that is in the public is not true. SHe said, “A lot of what’s known to the public about my father is false information, even in the book published. If the makers haven’t made a film based on his life then well and good but we are disturbed by all this. I’ve gotten so many comparison videos on WhatsApp. The girlfriend angle shown in the film, the Sapna Didi story was in fact like a sister to my father. That’s why all of this is so disturbing. She has come to our home. I met her when I was a kid. It’s altogether a different relationship.”

However the makers of the film have replied to the notice stating that it is not a biopic but an unrequited love story which is aptly titled O Romeo. The film has no connection to the life story of Hussain Shaikh or his family members. In the film the male protagonist kills the arch enemy of the female protagonist to take revenge this is completely different from the publicly known real life events in Hussain life.

The protagonist is known as Ustara because of his proficiency using razor as a weapon.