Vivek Oberoi reveals he refused to debut with a film backed by dad Suresh Oberoi, recalls struggling for 18 months: “I had crisis of conscience”

December 7, 2024 - 2:47 PM IST

Actor Vivek Oberoi recently opened up about his unconventional path in Bollywood, sharing how he chose merit over the privileges of being a star kid. From rejecting a launch film by his father, veteran actor Suresh Oberoi, to preparing intensely for his breakout role in Ram Gopal Varma’s Company, Vivek’s journey has been anything but typical.

Vivek Oberoi reveals he refused to debut with a film backed by dad Suresh Oberoi, recalls struggling for 18 months: “I had crisis of conscience”

Turning Down a Family Opportunity

In an interview with Screen, Vivek revealed he faced a "crisis of conscience" when his father decided to launch him in Bollywood with Abbas-Mustan. “I didn’t want my father to invest money to launch me. I wanted it to be based on merit. He respected my decision, even though he was worried,” Vivek shared. This decision led to 18 months of struggle and rejection, but he stands by the choice.

From Rejection to Landing Company

Vivek’s journey to starring in Ram Gopal Varma’s Company was equally challenging. Initially rejected by the filmmaker for being "too polished" to play a gritty slum-dweller, Vivek took matters into his own hands.

“He was traveling for three weeks so he said he would meet me after that. From his office I didn’t go home, I went straight to a nearby slum, took a room there, paid the rent, and moved into it. I lived there for 3 weeks and bought one of those dictaphones, and I would go around recording how the boys spoke there. I started to understand the nuances, etc.,” Vivek recounted. His dedication paid off when Ram Gopal Varma cast him on the spot.

He further added, “I wore chappals, badly fitting pants, a torn banyan, and walked in. At the door, I lit up a beedi and kicked the door open. I walked in with swag, pulled the chair, and sat down. I gave him a death stare and threw my pictures on his table to take a look. He then got up and told me I was doing the film. I was so scared wondering whether he was testing me that I refused to drop the character. He then told me to stop smoking in his office. It was my dream to work with Mr Varma.”

Recalling his first day on set, Vivek admitted to feeling intimidated by co-star Ajay Devgn. “Mr. Varma didn’t give me any feedback initially, which made me think I was being sidelined. Later, he reassured me that no comments meant he liked what I was doing,” Vivek said.

While Vivek Oberoi gained acclaim for Company, he has also diversified his career. Currently, he is working on Masti 4, developing two other films, and launching his lab-grown diamond brand, Solitario.

Also Read: Vivek Oberoi opens up about threats from the underworld: “I’d never experienced anything like this in my life”