O’ Romeo, starring Shahid Kapoor, has begun its theatrical run on a measured note, collecting Rs 8.25 crore on its first day in India. The romantic action thriller, directed by Vishal Bhardwaj, arrived in cinemas on February 13 after weeks of legal uncertainty that briefly cast a shadow over its release.

According to trade estimates shared by industry tracker Sacnilk, the opening figure is stronger than Shahid’s previous release, Deva, which debuted at Rs 5 crore. Still, comparisons have inevitably turned toward Kabir Singh, the actor’s biggest commercial success, which had opened at Rs 20 crore in 2019.

For a star-led film mounted on a larger canvas, the gap is evident. Whether the current release can build momentum over the weekend remains to be seen.

Occupancy data from Friday reflects a gradual uptick as the day progressed. The film recorded an overall 14.86 percent occupancy in Hindi (2D) screenings. Morning shows were relatively quiet at 8.63 percent, but numbers improved through the afternoon and evening. Night shows reported the highest turnout at 24.97 percent, suggesting that urban late-evening audiences may have responded more strongly.

Despite the moderate start, early viewer reactions have leaned positive. One moviegoer, posting after attending the first show in Jaipur, praised both Shahid and co-star Triptii Dimri, calling the film “fantastic” and recommending it as a must-watch. Such responses, while anecdotal, indicate that word-of-mouth may play a role in the coming days.

The road to release was not entirely smooth. The daughter of late Hussain Shaikh, also known as Hussain Ustara, had alleged that the film amounted to an unauthorised biopic that portrayed her father negatively. The court later dismissed the complaint, observing that the claim lacked sufficient grounds. With that order, the film’s theatrical rollout proceeded as scheduled.

The project marks Shahid’s third collaboration with Bhardwaj after Haider and Kaminey. Alongside Shahid and Dimri, the ensemble cast includes Avinash Tiwary, Farida Jalal, Vikrant Massey, Nana Patekar, Tamannaah Bhatia and Disha Patani.

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Set against a dark criminal underworld, the story centres on a hardened gangster whose life spirals after a forbidden, one-sided love sets off a violent gang conflict. For now, the numbers suggest a cautious beginning. The coming days will indicate whether audience response can translate into stronger footfall at the ticket window.