From Irrfan Khan to Shahid Kapoor: Inside the Long and Troubled Journey of O Romeo
Long before it was titled O Romeo, the film began its journey as an ambitious period drama with a very different cast and creative team. Originally conceived in 2017, the project was meant to star the late Irrfan Khan as Ustra and Deepika Padukone as Sapna Didi, with casting director Honey Trehan making his directorial debut under the mentorship of filmmaker Vishal Bhardwaj.
At the time, expectations were high. The film was scheduled to go on floors in January 2018 and was targeting an October 2 theatrical release the same year. However, a series of setbacks soon derailed those plans.
Early Delays and Political Opposition
The first major disruption came due to scheduling conflicts. Deepika Padukone’s prior commitment to Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Padmaavat, which itself faced prolonged delays, pushed O Romeo off its original timeline.
Soon after, the project encountered intense opposition from the Shri Rajput Karni Sena. Reports indicated repeated disruptions during pre-production, including an incident in which one of the film’s sets was allegedly set on fire. These events added to mounting delays and uncertainty around the project’s future.
Creative Fallout and Vishal Bhardwaj’s Takeover
As the film struggled to move forward, creative differences emerged between Honey Trehan and Vishal Bhardwaj. Bhardwaj, who had introduced Trehan to the industry through Makdee and supported his early career, eventually stepped in to take control of the project.
This transition coincided with a difficult phase in Bhardwaj’s own career. Following the underperformance of his 2017 film Rangoon, several of his planned projects failed to take off. O Romeo thus became a potential revival opportunity for the filmmaker.
Trehan ultimately exited the project altogether. He later reinvented himself by making his directorial debut with Netflix India’s Raat Akeli Hai in 2020, which marked a turning point in his career.
Irrfan Khan’s Illness and Irreplaceable Loss
The most devastating blow to the film came when Irrfan Khan was diagnosed with a rare neuroendocrine tumour. He halted all work and travelled to London for treatment, remaining away from the industry for nearly two years.
Although Irrfan returned to India in early 2020, he passed away shortly after in April that year. His death not only left an irreplaceable void in Indian cinema but also effectively stalled O Romeo indefinitely.
Legal Troubles, Arrests, and the Pandemic
The project continued to face compounding challenges. Producer Prernaa Arora of KriArj Entertainment was arrested in connection with financial irregularities, further complicating production. Soon after, the Covid-19 pandemic brought the entire film industry to a standstill.
For several years, O Romeo remained in limbo, widely regarded as an ill-fated project unlikely to ever reach completion.
Revival With a New Cast and New Producer
A breakthrough finally came when Sajid Nadiadwala stepped in as producer, reviving the project with a fresh vision. With Irrfan no longer alive and Deepika Padukone unavailable due to other commitments and her pregnancy, the lead roles were recast with Shahid Kapoor and Triptii Dimri.
The ensemble also underwent last-minute changes. Randeep Hooda exited his role as Dawood just days before the shoot and was replaced by Nana Patekar. Avinash Tiwary, Disha Patani, and Farida Jalal were later added to the cast, reshaping the film’s narrative texture.
Title Change and Fresh Legal Concerns
Originally titled Rani during the Irrfan–Deepika phase, the film underwent significant character and narrative modifications after Shahid Kapoor’s casting. To avoid legal complications linked to Ustra’s family, the makers opted for a title change, eventually finalising O Romeo.
Despite its revival, the film has once again run into legal trouble ahead of its release. Nevertheless, O Romeo is currently slated to hit theatres on February 13.
Our Thoughts
The journey of O Romeo reflects how fragile and unpredictable filmmaking can be, even with top-tier talent attached. From creative fallouts and political resistance to personal tragedy and industry-wide disruption, the film has survived almost every possible setback. Its eventual release stands not just as a cinematic event, but as a testament to persistence in an industry where many projects never make it past development limbo. Whether O Romeo resonates with audiences or not, its story behind the scenes is already one of the most extraordinary in recent Hindi cinema history.
