Mumbai’s cinema halls are buzzing with excitement as Shahid Kapoor’s latest release, ‘O Romeo’, a gripping romantic-action drama co-starring Triptii Dimri and Avinash Tiwari, hits the big screen. Packed with high-octane action sequences that promise to leave audiences on the edge of their seats, the film leans heavily into intense brutality over tender romance. This bold choice has fans drawing parallels to Shahid’s 2019 mega-hit ‘Kabir Singh’, sparking speculation: can ‘O Romeo’ replicate that box office magic?
Since the thunderous success of ‘Kabir Singh’, which raked in nearly 400 crores on a modest 60 crore budget despite its controversial ‘toxic’ narrative, Shahid’s career has seen a string of disappointments. His 2022 emotional drama ‘Jersey’, alongside Mrunal Thakur, told a heartfelt tale of a faded cricketer chasing dreams through his son. Critics praised its inspiring story of perseverance and family bonds, but the 60-95 crore production fizzled out at just 30 crores at the box office, forcing producers to recover costs via OTT.
Undeterred, Shahid unleashed his intense side in the OTT-exclusive ‘Bloody Daddy’, a 200 crore spectacle that skipped theaters entirely. Featuring Shahid in a ruthless, violence-laden role, the film drew criticism for its direct-to-streaming strategy. Reports swirled of Shahid pocketing a whopping 40 crore fee, yet it garnered only mediocre ratings on the platform, failing to ignite viewer passion.
Next came the quirky romantic outing ‘Teri Baaton Mein Aisa Uljha Jiya’ with Kriti Sanon, where Shahid falls for a robot in an unconventional love story. It started strong, crossing 100-150 crores against a 75 crore budget to emerge as an average hit, but momentum waned after the opening week. Now, with ‘O Romeo’ blending romance and raw aggression much like ‘Kabir Singh’, Shahid stands at a career crossroads. Will this be the blockbuster that reignites his stardom after seven long years? Audiences are watching closely.