The filmmaker initially rejected this actor for his debut movie because of his ‘polished’ and ‘well-educated’ image.
Vivek Oberoi became a star after his Bollywood debut in Ram Gopal Varma’s 2002 film, Company. But bagging that project for him in a first shot wasn’t easy. The actor was initially rejected for his debut film. His father, Suresh Oberoi was ready to launch him in his own film, but the actor walked out as he wanted to be launched due to his merit.
In an interview, Vivek revealed that Ram Gopal Varma rejected him due to his high-maintained image. The actor told SCREEN, “I went to meet Mr Varma, he saw my pictures and rejected me outright. He said I looked talented, but I was too polished and well-educated, so I didn’t fit the bill of this slumdog, Chandu. I just asked him to give me one meeting and he said why, I know you won’t fit the part.”
However, Ram Gopal Varma eventually decided to give Vivek another chance. Recalling the experience, the actor shared, “He was travelling 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. I called a struggling photographer to help a struggling actor and take some pictures. I told him if I made it, he would get to shoot the first cover I appeared on. I finally got the meeting with Mr Varma. I landed up there dressed as the character, hoping he would audition me,” Vivek added.
Vivek revealed that he started dressing and living as his character from Company. “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; Satya was one of my all-time favourites. He was a great filmmaker, so it was a dream to be a part of Company.” Vivek recalled.
Made in Rs 9.5 crore, Company went on to earn Rs 25.02 crore at the box office. Vivek Oberoi later on delivered super hits like Saathiya, Yuva, Shootout at Lokhandwala and more. Currently, the actor charges Rs 3-4 crore per film and boasts a whopping net worth of Rs 1200 crore. He last appeared in Rohit Shetty’s Indian Police Force. He will next be seen in Masti 4.
