Vivek Oberoi, who plays the character of Vidyutjiva in Ramayana Part 1, has spoken about one of the darkest phases of his career. He says that certain sections of Bollywood ostracised him for standing up for what he believed was right. The actor recently opened up about being bullied, losing films even after delivering successful projects, and being in a helpless position when his career took an unexpected turn. He claimed that the underworld also made threatening calls to filmmakers who wished to work with him. He didn’t name anyone, but Vivek said he was left with real misery.
Vivek Oberoi on being shunned by Bollywood
who had a promising debut with films like Company and Saathiya, opened up about the controversy that marred his career in the early 2000s. In an interview with the Relearn podcast, the actor shared that he had tried to fight against something he thought was wrong, but the repercussions were drastic.
Vivek Oberoi in his debut film Company
Vivek said, “It was a very dark phase in my life. I tried to stand up for something. I came from the thought process that there’s a certain line you don’t cross. Women have to be respected and treated a certain way. I stood up to what I perceived was wrong, and I started being bullied a lot.”
The actor said that projects he had already signed began to disappear and he felt like an outsider in the industry. “Despite delivering successes, hits, and awards, a very powerful lobby took over. I became persona non grata. I would have people pulling out of films I had signed,” he said.
Vivek Oberoi in Ramayana
Filmmakers got threatening calls from the underworld, says Vivek
The actor also alleged that filmmakers who were open to work with him were allegedly threatened, and from there on things got worse. Some of them, Vivek said, had initially supported him but later contacted him to tell him why they could no longer pursue their projects. “Those who decided to stick by me for ethical reasons would suddenly call me a few weeks later and say, listen man, I got a call from the underworld. I had gangsters calling me, saying that, you film with this guy and you’re done; you’re toast,” he said.
“I went through real hell, real misery. I didn’t get the work not because I wasn’t able to deliver. It wasn’t based on talent. It wasn’t based on performance. It wasn’t based on work ethic. It was based on something that I couldn’t control.”
Vivek Oberoi’s work off late
This year, Vivek Oberoi he appeared in Nitesh Tiwari’s as Vidyutjiva, Ravana’s brother-in-law and husband of Shurpanakha. Now, Vivek is part of the cast of Sandeep Reddy Vanga’s upcoming film Spirit, starring Prabhas and Triptii Dimri. The film is coming to screens next year.