Vishal Bhardwaj Clears Air on Shahid Kapoor Fallout Rumors

Filmmaker Vishal Bhardwaj has spoken out about speculation concerning a past rift with actor Shahid Kapoor, which arose during the production of their 2017 film 'Rangoon.' Addressing these rumors at the trailer launch of their upcoming movie, 'O' Romeo,' Bhardwaj admitted that creative disagreements are a natural part of filmmaking but insisted that the extent of their alleged clashes has been significantly overstated by the media over the years.

Bhardwaj likened his creative partnership with Kapoor to that of legendary music directors Laxmikant-Pyarelal. He further acknowledged his own demanding nature as a director, praising Kapoor's maturity and understanding in navigating their professional relationship. Their collaboration, now spanning four films including 'Kaminey,' 'Haider,' and 'Rangoon,' is a testament to their complementary artistic strengths. Bhardwaj expressed his admiration for Kapoor's talent, noting his inherited emotional depth from his parents, Pankaj Kapur and Neelima Azeem.

Shahid Kapoor shared his initial intimidation when first working with Bhardwaj on 'Kaminey.' He recalled Bhardwaj's faith in his ability, leading to their subsequent impactful projects like 'Haider,' a challenging adaptation of 'Hamlet.' Kapoor expressed his fortune in being part of Bhardwaj's filmography. Interestingly, he mentioned that 'O' Romeo' came to him via producer Sajid Nadiadwala, though Bhardwaj humorously interjected about having reached out to Kapoor himself. 'O' Romeo' is slated for theatrical release on February 13, coinciding with Valentine's Day week.