Years after 'Om Shanti Om's' box office success, Vivek Oberoi broke his silence on why he chose to pass on this opportunity.
Farah Khan’s Om Shanti Om, starring Shah Rukh Khan, Deepika Padukone, and Arjun Rampal, is a Bollywood classic that remains close to fans’ hearts. However, what many might not know is that Vivek Oberoi was the first choice for the cold-blooded antagonist, ‘Mukesh Mehra’, a role eventually played by Arjun Rampal.
Vivek Oberoi is getting it all out with revelations from his life and Bollywood career, looking back at his roles, offers, and setbacks. In a candid chat with MensXP, Vivek revealed that the timing of Farah Khan's offer clashed with Apoorva Lakhia’s gangster drama, Shootout at Lokhandwala, which he had already committed to. The actor recalled:
“It was an either-or because the dates were also clashing, and both were negative roles. I liked my role (in Shootout at Lokhandwala). Moreover, by the time Farah approached me for the role, I had already started doing my whole research for the character.”
By the time Farah Khan approached him, Vivek was already quite invested in his role for Shootout at Lokhandwala as ‘Maya Dolas’, a notorious gangster. Having done that, switching gears and taking on a contrasting role as a suave, polished character in Om Shanti Om was a challenge. Talking about the same, Vivek shared:
I had met cops, read his crime files, and started visualising the character. I had already done 4-5 months prep for that role. Then, at that point, suddenly switching gears and going in a suave suit would have been difficult.”
Considering Om Shanti Om went on to become a massive hit, Vivek shared that he did not have regrets for his decision to turn down such an opportunity. The actor, who once had the opportunity to share screen time with Shah Rukh Khan in Saathiya, praised Farah Khan and the team behind Om Shanti Om’s massive success. Vivek told MensXP:
“If it was a different situation, I would have definitely said yes. Why not? If I had time to do both, I would have wanted to do Om Shanti Om. Farah made a superb film. It’s always amazing to work with Shah bhai. In my entire career, I have had the fun and opportunity of just doing a few nights of shooting together (with SRK) on Saathiya, where he was so kind to play a guest appearance in the film.”
After Vivek turned down the offer, the role of ‘Mukesh Mehra’ was ultimately finalised with Arjun Rampal, who delivered a stellar performance in the film and became an iconic antagonist. Reflecting on the film’s commercial success, Vivek shared that he found Arjun to be the perfect match for the role.
On the flip side, Vivek’s role in Shootout at Lokhandwala is celebrated as one of his best performances to date. The intense preparation and dedication he brought to the role paid off, cementing his position as a versatile actor.
On his work front, Vivek is all set for his return to the screen with his upcoming film, Masti 4, directed by Indra Kumar, alongside Aftab Shivdasani and Riteish Deshmukh.
What are your views on Vivek Oberoi’s decision to turn down the iconic role in Om Shanti Om?
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