Mumbai, February 24, 2026 – Vishal Bhardwaj’s ambitious epic romantic action thriller O’ Romeo, starring Shahid Kapoor opposite Triptii Dimri, has officially emerged as a major box office letdown, failing to recover its hefty production costs despite reaching the 100-crore worldwide gross mark in its second week.
Released on February 13, 2026, to capitalize on Valentine’s Day weekend buzz, the film—produced by Sajid Nadiadwala under Nadiadwala Grandson Entertainment—promised a gritty underworld saga infused with romance, revenge, and Shakespearean undertones, loosely drawing from Hussain Zaidi’s Mafia Queens of Mumbai. With a star-studded supporting cast including Nana Patekar, Avinash Tiwary, Tamannaah Bhatia, Disha Patani, Farida Jalal, and a special appearance by Vikrant Massey, expectations were sky-high for a potential blockbuster from the director behind classics like Omkara and Haider.
The film opened decently, collecting around ₹7.75–8.5 crore nett on day one, followed by a strong Saturday surge (₹11.5–12.65 crore) driven by multiplex audiences and festive mood. However, momentum stalled quickly. Word-of-mouth turned mixed-to-negative, with audiences and critics citing issues like uneven pacing, excessive runtime (nearly 3 hours), over-the-top violence, and a failure to deliver emotional depth or consistent commercial thrills despite Shahid Kapoor’s committed performance as the intense gangster Ustara.
Trade trackers report the following approximate collections (as of Day 11–12, February 23–24, 2026):
- India Nett: ₹57–67 crore (gross ~₹68–79 crore)
- Overseas Gross: ₹20–23.5 crore
- Worldwide Gross: ₹90–102 crore (crossing ₹100 crore in some estimates, hailed as a “century” by makers)
While these figures place O’ Romeo as one of Shahid Kapoor’s higher-grossing films domestically (surpassing Haider and ranking 4th in his career per some reports), the numbers fall dramatically short of expectations for a film reportedly budgeted at over ₹100–150 crore (including prints and advertising). Industry insiders classify it as a flop or outright disaster, especially given desperate measures like BOGO ticket offers and weekday promotions that failed to revive footfalls.
Second-week collections have been particularly weak, with daily hauls dipping to ₹1.25–2 crore on weekdays amid competition from other releases and waning interest. Analysts note that while the film outperformed some newer competitors in its second weekend, its overall trajectory reflects poor sustainability—far from the sustained run needed for a high-budget venture to turn profitable.
Critics praised individual elements—Shahid’s intensity, Vishal Bhardwaj’s stylistic flair, and supporting performances—but slammed the narrative as bloated and lacking cohesion. Audience feedback echoed similar sentiments, with social media filled with disappointment over unfulfilled hype.
For Shahid Kapoor, O’ Romeo marks a setback after recent successes, though it still ranks among his better performers financially. Director Vishal Bhardwaj, known for bold storytelling, faces questions about balancing artistic vision with mass appeal in today’s market.
As theaters continue screening amid upcoming big releases, O’ Romeo serves as a reminder of Bollywood’s unpredictable nature: even star power, big budgets, and Valentine’s timing can’t guarantee success when storytelling misses the mark. The film now eyes a modest final tally around ₹110–120 crore worldwide at best, solidifying its status as a costly misfire in an otherwise competitive 2026 slate.
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