Vivek Oberoi had everything going for him in the early 2000s, fame, charm, and the promise of becoming Bollywood’s next big star. After impressing audiences with ‘Company’ and ‘Saathiya’, he seemed unstoppable. But in 2003, one bold press conference changed it all.
In front of flashing cameras, Oberoi went up against
Salman Khan, accusing the superstar of threatening him. What followed was a storm that almost ended his career overnight. The controversy not only damaged his professional image but also exposed his personal life to public scrutiny. Suddenly, the rising star who had the world at his feet found himself standing on shaky ground.
However, what looked like the end of his journey turned out to be a test of fate.
Vivek Oberoi faced a sudden career downfall
The ‘Saathiya’ actor, who was reportedly in a relationship with
Aishwarya Rai at the time, found himself in the middle of a massive feud with Salman Khan. The conflict reportedly began after Salman’s breakup with his ‘Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam’ co-star Aishwarya. When Rai began dating Oberoi, things took a dramatic turn.
In 2003, Vivek accused Salman of threatening him during a now-infamous press conference. His statements spread like wildfire, dominating headlines and shocking the entire industry. What was meant to be a cry for help soon became the biggest controversy of his career.
How the controversy impacted Vivek Oberoi’s life and career
The aftermath was brutal. The press conference sparked an industry-wide backlash. Directors and producers distanced themselves, projects he had already signed were suddenly cancelled, and the media began painting him as an outsider who had taken on a superstar.
Recalling those dark days in a conversation with Prakhar Gupta, Vivek shared, "Main aise point pe tha Jahan pe bhayankar career boycott chal raha tha. Upar se ajeeb aur gareeb phone pe threats aa rahe hai. Kabhi aapko, kabhi mother ko, kabhi behen ko. Yeh ek taraf, doosri aur personal life bhi messy thi. Koi bhi depression mein jaata." (There came a time when I was being heavily boycotted in the industry. On top of that, I was getting strange and scary phone threats, sometimes to me, sometimes to my mother, sometimes to my sister. On one side was that, and on the other, my personal life was in a complete mess. Anyone would go into depression.)
Vivek Oberoi cried in his mother’s lap
“No one was ready to work with me, and I was thrown out of the films I had already signed. Moreover, I used to get a lot of calls threatening me. These calls were made to my sister, father and mother as well. Apart from that, my personal life was in a complete mess. It was obvious to be in depression. That's when I went and cried in my mother's lap just like a mama's boy. I asked the ‘Why me?’ question a lot. All she said was, ‘Did you ever ask yourself that question when you were winning awards, making films, and getting followed by fans?’”
Vivek Oberoi rebuild his acting career with strong roles
Despite being sidelined, Vivek didn’t let the setback define him. He gradually made his way back with powerful performances that reminded everyone of his talent. Films such as ‘Omkara’, ‘Shootout at Lokhandwala’, ‘Rakht Charitra’, and ‘Krrish 3’ became turning points in his journey.
Beyond the screen, Vivek managed to create a stable and fulfilling life for himself. He married Priyanka Alva in 2010, and the couple have two children. While his career saw several ups and downs, his personal life brought him peace and balance.
As reported by News18, Vivek Oberoi has also made a strong mark in the business world, with an estimated net worth of Rs 1,200 crore. He has built a diverse business empire spanning real estate, ed-tech, jewellery, alcohol, agri-tech, fintech, and several other sectors.
Vivek Oberoi has several projects lined up, ‘Ramayana: Part 1’, ‘Spirit’, and ‘Mastii 4’ in the pipeline, proving that his passion for cinema is still very much alive.
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