“After Rakht Charitra, I wanted to disappear” – Vivek Oberoi

By Bollywood Hungama News Network -

October 5, 2012 - 11:09 AM IST

A couple of years back, Vivek Oberoi had come up with a fantastic performance in Rakht Charitra but unfortunately the Ram Gopal Varma film went unnoticed.

“After Rakht Charitra, I wanted to disappear” – Vivek Oberoi

He had continued to play a brooding character for quite a few films till then but post the film's release; he took a conscious call to rethink about the work he wanted to do.

Result was his signing of a bunch of light hearted films, the earliest one turning out to be Kismet Love Paisa Dilli a.k.a. KLPD. Though there are as many

as ten films in the pipeline for Vivek (he confirms that), right now it's time for KLPD where he is playing a character which is a decade younger to him.

Director Sanjay Khanduri tells me that he had just seven minutes of script in hand and you still were bought in instantly. Really, was it that simple and easy for you?

Ab kya karein, yeh Sanjay bhi badmaash hai. Saat minutes ki story sunayi and after that he said that he would narrate the rest of it only when I give him a go ahead

(smiles). Here I was waiting with my mouth open with amazement and telling him that 'story toh bata de yaar' but he said he would proceed only if his pre-condition is met.

That's it; we were committed there and then to do the film.

Based on the promos, it seems like a much more polished and well mounted film than compared to Sanjay's debut film Ek Chalis Ki Last Local.
Yes it is. We were clear that we had to spend on the film and make it look fantastic. There was certain polish that the film warranted even though it dealt with the grungy

underbelly of Delhi. Also, personally too, it was a great deal for me to do the film since I had played a brooding character quite a few times. Now it was time for me to push

myself out of comfort zone.

So it was time to move from Mumbai to Delhi?
(Smiles) Well, Delhi's setting does help. It is a cross segment of quite a few things and since we are set in one single night, there is a lot happening in those two hours. We

all say that yeh film ek aam bande ki kahaani hai. However when you would see the film, you would realise that is kahaani mein ek deep meaning hai. A lot can happen to

you and me in one single night.

Well, in that night when someone like Mallika Sherawat joins in, it adds on to the fun, isn't it?
(Laughs) It is such an unusual casting and hats off to Sanjay and Amit (Chandrra) for bringing it on. When Mallika and I met, we instantly kicked it off in a big way. It was

easy from that point on and high energy that she brings along with her only compliment the kind that I possess. Also, it helps when you co-star is in love with the film. The

moment we did our first scene together, it all fell in place; the chemistry just started to flow.

Chemistry of a Punjabi Vivek and a Jatni Mallika should give something special, isn't it?
Yes, the story has this whole Punjabiyat and Jaat element to it which encompasses all North Indian elements. Baaki toh ab picture theatre mein chal hi rahi hai toh aap

khud hi dekh lo.

Unfortunately not many saw your Rakht Charitra though in theatres. Those must have been real tough times, isn't it?
(Says after a pause) Rakht Charitra was a very intense film and I still feel that it was one of my most difficult roles. Just getting into the skin of the character was

such a difficult thing and moreover it was made in different languages and two parts. It was a very intense exercise for me and I wanted to take a break after that. I just

wanted to disappear for six months. (Smiles) In any case I had just got married and a holiday was due.

So where did you go?
We went deep sea diving in Turkey and also visited Bali, Switzerland, Monte Carlo, London; you name it, we just travelled (smiles). In between I came back to do some

shows as well. That process of six months started to realign my thinking. I realized that if you don't take a break then you don't get time to strategize. I was working back

to back till then and this gap of six months rejuvenated me.

Guess arrival of a baby in your house early next year would act as further rejuvenation, isn't it?
(Gets emotional) From the very first sonography that I saw to listening to the beating heart of baby who is still in the womb, I can't explain in words how it feels. Here I

was all teary eyed and my wife laughed that I was being a total softy. I was so emotional while my wife was relaxed. Well, it is good to have a balance. I love kids and they

are centre of my universe. Now to have one of my own should be indeed special.

Watch Promo: Kismet Love Paisa Dilli