Bollywood has always been fascinated with stories of love and chaos, but O’ Romeo attempts to blend both into something deeper — a visually intense, emotionally conflicted gangster romance. Directed by Vishal Bhardwaj, the film brings together a powerful cast led by Shahid Kapoor and Triptii Dimri, promising a cinematic experience that feels poetic yet brutal.Released on 13 February 2026, the film arrived with high expectations, thanks to Bhardwaj’s legacy of creating complex noir dramas. But does O’ Romeo truly live up to the hype? The answer lies somewhere between admiration and frustration.
Storyline: Love, Revenge & Gangland Chaos
At its core, O’ Romeo is a story about revenge wrapped in romance. The narrative follows a contract killer whose violent world collides with a woman driven by loss and vengeance. As emotions grow stronger, the line between love and destruction begins to blur.
The film tries to be many things at once — a gangster saga, a tragic romance, and an emotional character study. While this ambition gives the movie its uniqueness, it also results in uneven storytelling. Critics and audiences alike have noted that the screenplay occasionally struggles to settle on a clear emotional tone, causing certain moments to lose their impact.
Adding to this conversation, Sneha — who recently watched the film — feels that the storyline is the film’s weakest link. From her perspective, the narrative lacks depth and originality, moving in a predictable direction without building strong emotional investment. She believes the concept held real potential, but the execution could have been more layered, with better character development and tighter storytelling to create a deeper connection with the audience.
Performances: The Film’s Strongest Pillar
If there’s one reason to watch O’ Romeo, it’s the performances. Shahid Kapoor delivers an intense, physically demanding role that balances aggression with vulnerability. His presence dominates the screen, especially during action sequences and emotionally charged confrontations.
Triptii Dimri adds softness and emotional depth, portraying a character caught between pain and desire. Supporting actors like Nana Patekar and Vikrant Massey enhance the film’s dramatic weight, even though some characters feel underexplored due to the film’s extended runtime.
Direction, Visuals & Music
Visually, the film is striking. Bhardwaj crafts stylish frames filled with dark textures, blood-soaked symbolism, and poetic imagery. Several critics praised the cinematography and action staging, describing the film as atmospheric and bold.
However, pacing remains a major concern. At nearly three hours, the narrative occasionally drags, and some songs and scenes feel indulgent rather than essential. While many viewers appreciated the artistic ambition, others wished for a more disciplined edit.
Sneha also points out another area where the film could have improved — the styling and overall visual presentation of the characters. In her view, the costumes and styling did not fully align with the personalities or emotional tone of the film. She felt that more thoughtful wardrobe choices, stronger makeup direction, and overall aesthetic consistency could have made the characters appear more polished and believable, ultimately strengthening the storytelling itself.
Audience Reactions: Divided Opinions
The response to O’ Romeo has been mixed. While some audiences praised its mood, performances, and cinematic style, others felt the emotional core was missing and the violence excessive. Social media reactions reflect this divide — admiration for its ambition on one side, disappointment in execution on the other.
Despite these mixed reviews, the film opened strongly at the box office, driven largely by star power and curiosity.
Final Verdict
O’ Romeo is not a perfect film — but it is undeniably ambitious. It swings between moments of brilliance and stretches of inconsistency, offering poetic visuals alongside storytelling choices that feel uneven.
From Sneha’s perspective, the film had promise but fell short because of a weak storyline and styling that didn’t fully enhance the characters or atmosphere. With a more compelling script and stronger visual direction, she believes the movie could have delivered a far more engaging experience.
