What is Vishal Bhardwaj's new film adaptation about?

Vishal Bhardwaj's new film is an adaptation of Romeo and Juliet, drawing inspiration from a true-crime story from 'Mafia Queens of Mumbai'.

Who stars in this dark Romeo and Juliet adaptation?

The film stars Shahid Kapoor as the hitman Romeo and Triptii Dimri as the aggrieved widow Juliet, with Nana Patekar also featuring.

What is the tone of Bhardwaj's Romeo and Juliet adaptation?

The adaptation's tone is described as jarring, veering between crude and emotionally inert, depicting an obsessive and abject love story.

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Bhardwaj's Romeo & Juliet: A Gutter to Grave Tale

16 Feb

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Summary

Bhardwaj directs a new Romeo and Juliet adaptation.
The film revisits a true crime story from Mumbai.
Performances are strong, but the tone is jarring.

Bhardwaj's Romeo & Juliet: A Gutter to Grave Tale

Director Vishal Bhardwaj, known for his Shakespearean adaptations like Macbeth and Hamlet, returns with a modern take on Romeo and Juliet. This new film, however, deviates from a straightforward modernization, instead drawing inspiration from a grim true-crime account featured in 'Mafia Queens of Mumbai.' It aligns with Bollywood's recent trend towards lurid narratives.

The adaptation shifts the setting to Venice and introduces a morally degenerate Romeo, portrayed by Shahid Kapoor as a hitman named Hussein Ustara. Triptii Dimri plays an aggrieved widow with her own dangerous agenda. Their encounter, initiated when Romeo saves her during an assassination attempt, quickly embroils them in powerful conflicts.