At the trailer launch of O Romeo, filmmaker Vishal Bhardwaj didn’t just unveil his next cinematic spectacle — he also ignited a conversation about censorship, language, and the responsibility of cinema. Known for his unapologetically raw storytelling, Vishal made it clear that he has no interest in sanitising reality for audience comfort.
Speaking about the soul of O Romeo, Vishal revealed that beneath its gritty world of gangsters and violence lies a deeply emotional core. “It’s a love story with a violent background,” he explained. “But in its DNA, it’s a love story — an unrequited love story of this character, Ustara.” His words suggest that while the film may appear brutal on the surface, its emotional heartbeat is driven by longing and passion.
However, it was Vishal’s stance on abusive language and screen violence that truly stood out. Addressing debates around censorship, he firmly opposed muting or beeping expletives in films. According to him, realism should not be diluted. “Aur jahan tak aap yeh gaali aur violence ki baat kar rahe hain, mujhe lagta hai ki beep beep beep nahi hona chahiye. Yeh hi hona chahiye jo ki poora bola jaa sake,” he said, stressing that stories lose authenticity when their language is artificially filtered.
The director went on to call out what he sees as society’s hypocrisy toward cinema. He pointed out that the same harsh language and aggression people encounter daily in real life is often blamed on films. “Hum sarkon pe yeh gaaliyaan accept kar lete hain, cinema mein nahi. Har bura kaam cinema karta hai — cinema hi bigaadega, cinema hi sudharega,” he remarked, questioning why films are made scapegoats for social behavior.
Rejecting the notion that cinema shapes morality, Vishal described films as reflections rather than influencers. “Cinema mere hisaab se aaina hai jo aapko dikhlaata hai. Agar aaj violence ho raha hai, toh yeh violence humari society mein exist karta hai,” he stated, asserting that filmmakers merely portray what already exists around us.
Ending on a lighter yet pointed note, Vishal even called expletives a form of expression. “Aur gaaliya mujhe lagta hai ki poetry hoti hai. Dhang se use kiya jaye toh koi problem nahi,” he added with a smile.
Directed by Vishal Bhardwaj, O Romeo stars Shahid Kapoor in the lead role alongside Triptii Dimri, Nana Patekar, Tamannaah Bhatia, Vikrant Massey, Avinash Tiwary, and Disha Patani. The film is set to release in theatres on February 13, 2026 — already carrying the promise of intensity, controversy, and unfiltered storytelling.