Akshay Oberoi is a popular name in Bollywood and OTT. The US-born Indian actor left the foreign country to become a Hindi film hero.
Akshay Oberoi is not an unknown name in the glamour world. The handsome actor made his acting debut as a lead in 2010 with Rajshri Productions film, Isi Life Mein, and was seen in many popular films, playing supporting roles. Akshay proved his versatility with films like Piku, Fitoor, Kaalakaandi, Love Hostel, Gaslight, Fighter and many others.
Not many people know that Akshay Oberoi made his acting debut as a child artist in 2002 with the film, American Chai. Akshay always wanted to be an actor and worked hard for it, as the actor once revealed that he gave almost 1000 auditions in his 18-year career. Do you know that Akshay left his well-settled life in the USA because of his passion for acting? Read on to learn more about some unheard aspects of the actor’s life.
Born in New Jersey, United States, to Indian parents, Akshay attended Newark Academy for middle and high school. He later pursued a Bachelor’s degree in Theater Arts and Economics at Johns Hopkins University. Akshay also received acting training in New York and Los Angeles, where he trained under veteran American actor, John Allen Astin.
Akshay Oberoi’s father, Krishan Oberoi, is the brother of veteran actor, Suresh Oberoi. So Akshay is Vivek Oberoi's first cousin. However, Akshay never got any career advice from Vivek or his uncle, Suresh, and he always considered himself as an outsider. In an interview with India.com, Akshay elaborated:
“I actually see myself as an outsider because I didn’t receive any help from them. I wish we were closer. Boht log, mere saath joke karte hai ki mera reverse nepotism hua hai. So, my journey became that much very similar to an outsider.”
To make his career as an actor in Bollywood, Akshay Oberoi moved to India from the US and did plays at the Prithvi Theatre. From working backstage to multiple auditions, Akshay had struggled a lot to prove himself. In an interview with The Times of India, Akshay recalled his struggle and revealed:
“Meri jagah koi aur hota toh shayad ab tak chhodkar ja chuka hota. Who wants to struggle so much? But I hung on because I knew that as time was rolling by I was successfully polishing my acting skills.”
Akshay Oberoi met Jyothi Vynatheya while studying together at Newark Academy in the US. She worked as a strategy consultant with Dalberg Global Development Advisors. The duo got married in 2011, four months after the release of his debut film, Isi Life Mein. The couple has a son. When the actor decided to get married to his childhood love, many people questioned his decision.
In an interview with Bollywood Bubble, Akshay revealed that many people had told him to think before marrying so early. Revealing his thoughts during that time, Akshay stated:
“Uss time pe mujhe yaad hai log kaha karte the ki tum shaadi kar rahe ho, Rajshri ke hero ho, romantic lead mein launch hue ho. Pagal ho tum. Par mera manna ye tha ki koi mujhe janta nahi hai. Who film chali hai, kum se kum ye toh chahti hai mujhe, mein shaadi toh kar lu.”
Akshay Oberoi is now a leading name in Bollywood and OTT. Despite having connections in Bollywood, he struggled like an outsider and fulfilled his dream of becoming an actor.
Also Read: British Indian, Jay Shetty's Love Story With Radhi Devlukia: Met Her When He Was A Practicing Monk