Bollywood actor Vivek Oberoi, known for his roles in successful films like the Masti franchise, Saathiya, Shootout at Lokhandwala, and Omkara, recently shared insights into his entrepreneurial journey and the challenges he faced in the film industry. In a candid interview with India News, Oberoi revealed that despite his box office successes and critically acclaimed performances, he stopped receiving movie offers due to lobbying within Bollywood.
Oberoi stated, “I have been doing other businesses for a while now. There was a phase in my life where my movies were hit, performance was appreciated, yet for other reasons if you are not getting any role at all, when you become the victim of a system and lobby, you are left with just two options where you get all depressed or take it as a challenge and write your own destiny. I chose to walk on the latter path and ended up starting several businesses.”
The actor’s career experienced a significant downturn following a highly publicized feud with Bollywood superstar Salman Khan in 2003. During a press conference, Oberoi accused Khan of threatening him, attributing the threats to his then-relationship with actress Aishwarya Rai. Rai later married actor Abhishek Bachchan in 2007, and the couple welcomed their daughter, Aaradhya, in 2011.
Reflecting on the past two decades, Oberoi admitted to enduring “a lot of unnecessary stuff” that discouraged him and left him without work. In an interview with Hindustan Times, he referred to the “dark sides of the industry,” highlighting the repressive stories and lobbying that affected his career.
Suresh Oberoi, Vivek’s father, also spoke out about his son’s resilience during this challenging period. In an interview with Bollywood Hungama, he said, “It is his strength that he got through this. If it was someone else, they would have become an alcoholic or perhaps a drug addict. People were really against him. Media, and the people in the film industry, even the actors… sometimes when people get successful very quickly, others can’t take it.”
Despite these hurdles, Vivek Oberoi has successfully transitioned into entrepreneurship, proving his ability to adapt and thrive beyond the Bollywood spotlight. His recent appearance in Rohit Shetty’s web series, Indian Police Force, marks his return to the screen, continuing to demonstrate his versatility and resilience as an artist and businessman.
