“O Romeo” Advance Booking Soars: Triples in 24 Hours, Outpaces “Mardaani 3”

Mumbai/Lucknow: Shahid Kapoor’s upcoming romantic action thriller, O Romeo, is generating massive pre-release buzz, with advance ticket sales surging threefold in the last 24 hours. The film, directed by Vishal Bhardwaj, is set to hit theaters on Friday, February 13, and has already overtaken Rani Mukerji’s recently released Mardaani 3 in pre-bookings.

Starring Shahid Kapoor and Tripti Dimri, O Romeo promises action and thrill just in time for Valentine’s Day. As of Thursday morning, 50,648 tickets across 8,595 shows had been pre-booked, reflecting a gross advance collection of ₹1.19 crore — a significant jump from ₹38.01 lakh recorded just a day earlier. Including block bookings, the total gross from advance sales has reached ₹3.27 crore. Industry experts expect this momentum to continue in the final 24 hours before release.

Outperforming “Mardaani 3” in Advance Sales
Rani Mukerji’s Mardaani 3 had garnered ₹1.16 crore in pre-release bookings, with a first-day net collection of ₹4 crore nationwide. O Romeo has already surpassed these numbers, signaling a strong opening. However, compared to Shahid Kapoor’s previous pre-booking record for Teri Baathon Mein Uljha Ziya (₹2.11 crore), this advance sale is still slightly behind. His other recent films saw the following advance booking figures:

• Deva (2025) – ₹3.29 crore
• Jersey (2022) – ₹2.20 crore
• Teri Baathon Mein Uljha Ziya – ₹2.11 crore

Valentine’s Weekend Boost
Given the Valentine’s Day weekend, O Romeo is poised to benefit from the romantic timing. The film’s trailer and songs have already received positive audience reactions, and trade experts believe late-evening and night shows could see strong turnout. If theaters allocate additional prime-time slots, the film could potentially earn ₹8–9 crore net on opening day, though current estimates suggest a first-day collection of ₹5–7 crore nationwide.

Plot and Storyline
O Romeo, inspired by S. Hussain Zaidi’s book Mafia Queens of Mumbai, is a romantic action thriller set against the 1990s Mumbai underworld. The story follows contract killer Hussain Ustra (Shahid Kapoor) and Afsha (Tripti Dimri), a woman seeking revenge for her husband’s murder. Amid family rivalries and power struggles within the mafia, the film blends romance, action, and suspense.

Budget and Star Cast
Directed by Vishal Bhardwaj, the film’s budget is reportedly ₹60–65 crore. Alongside Shahid Kapoor and Tripti Dimri, the ensemble cast includes Avinash Tiwari, Nana Patekar, Tamanna Bhatia, Vikrant Massey, Disha Patani, and Farida Jalal. With strong pre-release momentum, industry analysts predict that O Romeo could become a hit, especially if audience reception matches the early buzz.