Vivek Oberoi recalls declining stardom, says bouquets stopped coming on birthdays: ‘Dal-roti chalani hai, EMI bharna hai’

Despite facing financial struggles, Oberoi said that many actors have to maintain a certain lifestyle. However, he emphasised that this comes with its own set of expenses. “This is what has empowered me today, where I don’t need to do a movie that I don’t believe in or I don’t like the script because dal-roti chalani hai, EMI bharna hai (I have to run my household, pay my EMI). Lots of people think, ‘Actor hai, isko kya problem hai humare jaise… (He’s an actor, what problems can he possibly have, like us ordinary people…).’ But actors also have their problems, they are used to a certain lifestyle. They are required to create a certain perception, woh perception ka bhi kharcha hai (it costs to maintain that perception). You have to live up to it,” he said.

Vivek Oberoi’s career in Bollywood has been a tumultuous one, marked by soaring highs and crushing lows. After a promising debut with Company in 2002, Oberoi’s career seemed to be on the fast track, with films like Saathiya and Yuva earning him critical acclaim. However, his very public feud with Salman Khan and a string of box office flops led to a decline in his fortunes, with many in the industry seemingly turning their backs on him. Despite his efforts to revive his career, Oberoi struggled to regain his footing, and for a time, it seemed as though he had been all but ousted from the Bollywood mainstream. However, in recent years, Oberoi has managed to turn his career around, taking on more meaningful and diverse roles in projects like Inside Edge, Indian Police Force and earning praise for his performances. With a renewed focus on his craft and a willingness to take on challenging projects, Oberoi seems to be back on track, and his fans are eagerly awaiting his next move.