Vivek Oberoi’s entry into Bollywood was shaped by persistence, rejection and an unusual approach to preparation. Before making his debut with ‘Company’ in 2002, the actor spent months trying to establish himself without relying on a launch vehicle planned by his father. His determination eventually led him to Ram Gopal Varma’s gangster drama, but landing the role required him to go much further than a conventional audition.After initially being rejected for not fitting the rugged appearance of Chandu, Vivek spent three weeks living in a Mumbai slum to understand the character and his surroundings.
Vivek Oberoi chose to make his own way
Early in his career, Vivek had the option of making his Bollywood debut in a film backed by his father. However, he decided to turn down the opportunity because he wanted to prove himself independently.The decision resulted in around 18 months of struggle, during which the actor faced numerous rejections and uncertainty. Despite the difficulties, Vivek has maintained that walking away from the comfortable option was something he never regretted.In an interview with Indian Express, the actor shared, “I walked away from that opportunity, struggled for 18 months after that, and faced a lot of rejection, but I am proud of that choice.”
Ram Gopal Varma initially rejected him for Company
When Vivek approached Ram Gopal Varma for ‘Company’, the filmmaker did not initially see him as the right fit for Chandu. His polished appearance, according to the actor, did not match the rough and street-smart character he was expected to portray.Vivek refused to let the rejection end his chances. After being told to wait three weeks for another meeting, he decided to use that time to completely immerse himself in the world of his character.Instead of going home, the actor rented a room in a nearby slum and lived there for three weeks.“From his office I didn’t go home; I went straight to a nearby slum, took a kholi (room) there, paid the rent, and moved into it. I lived there for 3 weeks.”Vivek spent those weeks closely observing the people living around him. He paid attention to their speech, body language and everyday behaviour, using those observations to build Chandu from the ground up. He also collaborated with a struggling photographer to develop the visual appearance of the character. The actor wanted every aspect of his transformation to look convincing before returning for his meeting with Varma.
Vivek walked into the meeting as Chandu
For his final meeting with Ram Gopal Varma, Vivek arrived almost unrecognisable. He wore worn-out slippers, loose pants and a torn vest, with a beedi in his hand. Rather than simply discussing the role, he entered the filmmaker’s office carrying the attitude and confidence of Chandu.He placed photographs of his transformed appearance on Varma’s desk, leaving a strong impression on the director. His preparation ultimately convinced Varma that he was suitable for the part, and Vivek was cast in ‘Company’. The actor remained committed to the character even after getting the role. His intense preparation became one of the early examples of the lengths he was willing to go to for a performance.
Ram Gopal Varma announces new crime drama
On the work front, Ram Gopal Varma is returning to the crime genre with ‘Police Company’, a new film inspired by a special police squad that reportedly killed more than 300 gangsters between 1997 and 2004.The filmmaker has described the establishment at the centre of his upcoming crime drama as being “more dangerous” than the underworld depicted in his 2021 film ‘D Company’, which revolved around the organised crime syndicate founded by gangster Dawood Ibrahim.Varma announced the project on social media, revealing that Harshvardhan Rane will play the central police officer. Rane rose to wider Bollywood prominence with his performance in the 2021 film ‘Haseen Dillruba’. With ‘Police Company’, Varma is once again returning to the gritty world of crime and law enforcement that has featured prominently throughout his filmmaking career.
