Now Reading: Vivek Oberoi lived in Mumbai slum for 3 weeks to land debut film role
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Vivek Oberoi lived in Mumbai slum for 3 weeks to land debut film role
Vivek Oberoi lived in Mumbai slum for 3 weeks to land debut film role
Vivek Oberoi has revealed that he rented a room in a Mumbai chawl for three weeks after being initially rejected for his debut film 'Company'. In an interview, the actor said director…
The Story in Brief
Vivek Oberoi has revealed that he rented a room in a Mumbai chawl for three weeks after being initially rejected for his debut film 'Company'. In an interview, the actor said director Ram Gopal Varma was not convinced by Oberoi's polished personality for the raw character of Chandu Nagre. Oberoi chose to transform himself by living in a slum, changing his body language and appearance. When he returned, Varma did not recognise him and offered him the role.
Oberoi also said he turned down the chance to be launched by his father, actor Suresh Oberoi, choosing instead to struggle for 18 months. The actor, now a businessman with a reported net worth of Rs 1,200 crore, will next appear as Vibhishan in Nitesh Tiwari's 'Ramayana Part 1'.
The Indian Opinion
Bollywood's 'struggle story' narrative often conflates temporary hardship with genuine deprivation. Vivek Oberoi's three weeks in a chawl was a calculated method acting exercise, not poverty. Yet media frames this as humble beginnings rather than an elite actor's choice to walk away from his father's launchpad. The real test of his method? Whether the industry still values such craft over nepotism debates, or if 'Rs 1,200 crore' is now the only number that matters.
Sources (2): ndtv.com, ndtv.com (2)
This story was synthesised by AI from the 2 sources linked above.
Updated: this story now draws on 2 sources.
