“Some people in industry subscribe to crab mentality” – Vivek Oberoi

By Bollywood Hungama News Network -

April 16, 2010 - 5:13 PM IST

His could well be termed as the rise from the ashes. Down, though definitely not out till about a couple of years back, things had started moving for Vivek Oberoi when he began work on Prince and Kurbaan. Kurbaan didn't turn out to be spectacular from commercial standpoint but managed to fetch him the kind of visibility and critical acclaim that he was hoping for. And now with Prince opening well, Vivek has all the right reasons to feel elated. However, as is the case with most films, even Prince has seen quite a few detractors coming it's way, something which is not quite amusing Vivek.

“Some people in industry subscribe to crab mentality” – Vivek Oberoi

Vivek, there have been comments that Prince makes an 'attempt' to look so cool. Isn't this a strange predicament though because the matter of the fact is that in a larger than life actioner like Prince, it was actually required for the 'framing' to
look 'cool'?

(Says after a pause) See, stray minds with their stray talk might lead us astray; it is best to ignore them. Prince is super cool and as the film is running quite well in theatres today, we can see it all by ourselves. Yes, it is very unfortunate when people come to their own conclusion without even looking at the final product.

Prince is super cool and as the film is running quite well in theatres today

Isn't it quite disheartening though when some people try to pull another actor's film down? After all it's one thing to watch a film and share your opinion and another to pass a judgement even as the film sees good response at the box office?
Yes, your observation is quite correct. Aisa hota hai. There are people in the industry who subscribe the crab mentality. Bas yahi karma hai; to pull people down. What we can do as one single unit is to do our best and ignore such people. Negativity toh hoti hi hai but the best thing is to just leave all this behind.

After being in the industry for over half a decade, you seem to have mellowed down on such aspects.
Dekho in every family, there are good and bad members. Similarly that's the case with our film fraternity as well. Har stock market mein bhi bears aur bulls hote hain. Ek ka kaam upar chadhana hai, doosre ka neeche giraana. If there are people around you who are born pessimists then you can't do much. It is best to let them be what they are and move on to look at brighter side of the picture, think positive and be optimistic.

Well, looks like the makers were indeed quite positive and optimistic. They spent a lot on giving a Hollywood treatment to the film's look.

Prince is a passion project for all of us, especially Kumarji and director Kookie (Gulati). It was a conscious effort to give the film's narrative and look an international feel and push the envelope. This is why the entire film was edited by Nicholas, editor of cult action film Transporter, in Paris.

Having said that, we constantly maintained an Indian soul which is a pre-requisite of a complete Bollywood entertainer.