Shahid Kapoor’s latest film O’Romeo has been making headlines ever since its theatrical release on February 13, 2026. The film, mounted on an alleged budget of ₹125 crore, opened to strong audience response following the release of its trailer in January. Alongside praise for its performances and scale, the movie also attracted controversy due to claims that Shahid’s character closely mirrored the life of notorious Mumbai gangster Hussain Ustara.

The controversy escalated when Hussain Ustara’s daughter reportedly issued a legal notice to the makers, alleging that her father’s life story was being portrayed without the family’s consent. She sought ₹2 crore in compensation. However, the Bombay City Civil Court later dismissed the plea, clarifying that the film was only inspired by real-life incidents and not intended as a factual retelling. Despite the legal relief, public curiosity around Hussain Ustara’s real-life story intensified after the film’s release.

Who was Hussain Ustara?

Born as Hussain Shaikh, Hussain Ustara earned his infamous nickname for his lethal skill with a blade. According to accounts shared with renowned crime journalist and author Hussain Zaidi in his book Dongri to Dubai, Hussain entered the criminal world at the age of 15 as a pickpocket, operating under a local gang leader to whom he had to submit his daily earnings.

A turning point came when Hussain decided to keep a large haul for himself. Upon being discovered, he was severely beaten by his ringleader. Cornered and acting in self-defence, Hussain used a razor blade on the gang leader, inflicting a wound so severe that doctors were reportedly stunned by its precision. Recalling the incident later, Hussain said:

“When I realised that things were going out of control, and I had no means to escape. I removed my razor from inside my pocket and attacked the ringleader. I managed to inflict a wound that began at his neck and ran right to his crotch. He was bleeding a lot and I managed to get away. He was taken to a hospital and the doctor there made a strange remark. He said that the person who had cut him had done so with surgical precision. And soon, before I could realise it, the name Ustara got stuck to my name. From then on people started fearing me, all because of that small weapon.”

This incident cemented his reputation and marked his rise in Mumbai’s underworld.

How did Hussain Ustara die?

Hussain Ustara later found himself on the hit list of underworld don Dawood Ibrahim after refusing to align with his syndicate. During this period, Hussain reportedly crossed paths with Sapna Didi, whose real name was Ashraf Khan. The two were allegedly involved in a plot to assassinate Dawood, driven largely by Sapna’s desire for revenge over her husband’s death.

Their alliance eventually deteriorated, and despite parting ways with Hussain, Sapna continued her plans independently. In 1994, she was brutally murdered. Reports suggest that four years later, in 1998, Hussain Ustara met a similar fate. He was allegedly shot dead by eight members of the D-Company in Mumbai’s Nagpada area—the same locality where Sapna Didi was killed.

While O’Romeo remains a work of fiction, its release has reignited interest in one of Mumbai’s most feared gangsters, whose life and violent end continue to intrigue audiences decades later.