Veteran actor Farida Jalal has opened up about mouthing a cuss word in the teaser of Vishal Bhardwaj’s upcoming film O’Romeo, addressing the surprise and reactions the dialogue generated online. Speaking in an interview, she explained how the moment came about and why she agreed to the line, while also setting clear personal boundaries on the language she was willing to use for her character.

Farida Jalal BREAKS SILENCE on saying cuss word “ch***ya” in O’Romeo teaser: “The character speaks in a certain way”

The teaser, released earlier this month for the film starring Shahid Kapoor, Triptii Dimri, Nana Patekar, Tamannaah Bhatia and others, drew attention for a brief scene in which Jalal’s character utters the word “ch***ya.” The teaser quickly became widely discussed across social media.

Farida, in an interview with Zoom, said that working with Bhardwaj had been a long-standing wish. She recalled the moment he first asked her about the dialogue: “Vishal Bhardwaj was on my list of favourite directors… He said, ‘Farida Ji, sabse pehle ek baat poochni thi,’ … He asked, ‘Aap gaali dengi na?’” reflecting that it wasn’t something she had expected.

Overwhelmed by the opportunity, she negotiated with him in a candid, light-hearted way. “Nahin rehne dijiye, chhod dijiye — aise toh main bolne wali nahin thi… All I said is nangi nangi, gandi gandi gaaliyan main nahin dungi. Chhoti wali, mamuli-si ho toh de sakti hoon… Ma-behen toh nahin bolungi,” she said, making it clear she would not use explicit or family-related abuses. Bhardwaj understood her stance and responded with amusement.

Addressing the stir caused by the single line in the teaser, Jalal noted that she had used the word only once in the film, but it was enough to surprise people given her long-standing image. “People are saying, ‘Farida Jalal ne yeh bola, humara pyari Daadi/Maa ne yeh bola…’ They have seen me since childhood, and I have stayed away from such dialogues, but it is okay. This is because the character speaks in a certain way. She is always in a temper. If you say yes to a role, you have to go all the way for it,” she explained.

The reaction online, while mixed, underscored how closely audiences identify Jalal with her iconic maternal and grandmotherly roles. Even though she had rarely delivered such language on screen before, she said that staying true to the character was paramount once she agreed to play the part.

O’Romeo, directed by Vishal Bhardwaj, is scheduled for theatrical release on February 13, 2026.

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