Who was Hussain Ustara? The underworld figure inspiring Shahid Kapoor’s O’ Romeo

O Romeo is inspired by the life story of Hussain Ustara

• Vishal Bhardwaj's film O' Romeo draws inspiration from hitman Hussain Ustara
• Ustara was infamous for his deadly precision with a razor in Mumbai's underworld.
• Ustara's sisters have filed a one-crore defamation suit against the filmmaker

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Mumbai’s underworld has always held a strange fascination for storytellers.

One name that has recently captured the public’s imagination is Hussain Shaikh, better known as Hussain Ustara, whose life and crimes are now in the spotlight again following the teaser of Vishal Bhardwaj’s upcoming film O’ Romeo.

The announcement hasn’t come without controversy—Ustara’s sisters have filed a one-crore defamation suit against the filmmaker. The film stars Shahid Kapoor, who reportedly portrays a character inspired by Ustara, bringing this infamous figure back into popular conversation.

Hussain Ustara was not a crime lord or kingpin; he was a contract killer, feared for his precision and ruthlessness. His weapon of choice was a barber’s razor—an ustara in Hindi—which earned him his nickname and became his terrifying signature.

Crime writer Hussain Zaidi documents Ustara in The Dangerous Dozen: Hitmen of the Mumbai Underworld, describing him as “fear in human form.” What was meant to be a simple grooming tool became a symbol of control and menace in his hands.

Ustara’s descent into the criminal world began shockingly young. By the age of 15 or 16, while most teens were still finding their footing, he was already involved with the wrong crowd.

A single street fight changed everything: he slashed a boy across the torso with a razor in a single, calculated move. That act earned him the name “Ustara” and established his reputation for deadly precision.

Over the next twenty years, Ustara became a known figure in Mumbai’s underworld. He operated out of Bapu Khote Street, controlling the Badani Building completely. Ahead of his time, he installed CCTV cameras in the mid-1990s and maintained a calm, polite demeanor that sharply contrasted with the violence he orchestrated.

Hussain Zaidi recalls meeting him in 1996, when Ustara casually displayed two automatic Mauser pistols and three mobile phones—a luxury at the time—showing off his meticulous organisation and influence.

Ustara’s reach extended beyond himself. He mentored Sapna Didi, born Ashraf Khan, whose husband had been killed by Dawood Ibrahim’s gang. Under his guidance, she learned combat, weapon handling, and motorbike riding, becoming a deadly ally.

Also Read: Triptii Dimri’s O’ Romeo role said to be inspired by real-life ‘Sapna Didi’ story in gritty Vishal Bhardwaj thriller

Now, Hussain Ustara’s life is finding a new audience in cinema. Shahid Kapoor’s teaser for O’ Romeo, featuring him wielding a razor, nods directly to Ustara’s legend.

Though he never built an empire like Dawood Ibrahim, Ustara’s story remains a chilling reminder of a time in Mumbai when one man, armed with skill and a razor, could command fear, respect, and leave a permanent mark on the city’s criminal history.