05 February,2026 02:39 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
Nana Patekar
The audiences is eagerly awaiting Sajid Nadiadwala's upcoming film O'Romeo, directed by celebrated filmmaker Vishal Bhardwaj. Adding to the growing anticipation, Bhardwaj has revealed a powerful behind-the-scenes moment that highlights Nana Patekar's commitment to his craft.
Speaking about a high-octane action sequence shot on a train set, Vishal Bhardwaj revealed that Nana Patekar continued filming despite suffering from a high fever of 102 degrees.
Recalling the incident, Bhardwaj said, "Suddenly, while we were shooting this action sequence in the train, I got to know that Nana Sir was unwell and had a 102-degree fever. We immediately called the doctor, who said he would give an injection but advised that Nana Sir should not shoot."
He added, "But Nana Sir, being Nana Patekar, said, âNo, I am not going back. I want to shoot. I want to complete this sequence. I can't take this on my head ki mere wajah se shooting cancel hui, location cancel ho.' And for the next four hours, he kept shooting with us."
Vishal Bhardwaj further shared, "His body was so warm that we could feel the heat when touching his forehead. Between shots, he would lie down on the train set, and when he got up to perform, it felt like jaise bimaari thi hi nahi (it felt like he was not ill at all). This is the commitment of a great artist."
Sanober Sheikh, the daughter of Hussain Ustara (whose life has reportedly inspired the film), has slapped the makers of O'Romeo with a legal notice. Sanober claims the film offers a wrong portrayal of her father and has demanded Rs 2 crore in compensation.
She denied reports that her family threatened the makers of the upcoming film O'Romeo, saying they have resorted only to legal action and are asking for a pre-release screening to ensure an accurate portrayal of her father's life.
At the trailer launch, Vishal Bharadwaj addressed the claim. "There is a book called Mafia Queens of Mumbai. Hussain Zaidi has written that story. I took the rights of that story and made a film on it. I didn't think because that story is based on that story. The characters are the same, but there is a lot of fiction in it. Hussain Zaidi must have taken that permission or should have taken it. I didn't think I needed it because it's based on a story which is part of a book. The film didn't happen before, and it's finally happened now."
Sajid Nadiadwala presents O'Romeo, a film by Vishal Bhardwaj, produced by Nadiadwala Grandson Entertainment. The film is set to release theatrically on 13th February 2026.
