Vivek Oberoi

Vivek Oberoi[1] (Telugu: యరఱఱ టౡఝఛ) (born 3 September 1976) is an Indian actor. He made his film debut with Ram Gopal Varma's film Company (2002). His performance in the film earned him Filmfare Awards for Best Male Debut and Best Supporting Actor. He later featured in several notable films which include Saathiya, Masti, Yuva, Omkara and also starred in Varma's critically acclaimed 2010 film Rakht Charitra. After a brief phase of box-office failures, the actor made a comeback in 2013 as the antagonist in the superhero science fiction film Krrish 3 and the adult comedy film Grand Masti.

Early life
Born to a Tamil mother and a Punjabi father Suresh Oberoi, a veteran bit-role actor in the Indian Film Industry,[2] Vivek studied at Mayo College, Ajmer. Thereafter, he attended Mithibai College, Juhu.[3] At an actors' workshop in London he was spotted by the director of New York University who took Vivek off to New York, where he completed his Masters Degree in film acting.[4] Vivek also worked as a script writer in India.[5]

Career
Oberoi made his debut with Ram Gopal Varma's film Company.[6] He received Filmfare Awards for Best Debut as well as Best Supporting Actor. He then starred in the action films, Road and Dum. In Dum, he played the role of a man trying to become a part of Indian police but faces many troubles with a police inspector.

Next, he starred in Saathiya (2002) directed by Shaad Ali. The film was a big hit at the box office and earned him a Filmfare nomination in the Best Actor category. He starred in a comedy Masti (2004). In 2004, he also starred in Yuva. In 2005 he acted the title character in the film Kisna: The Warrior Poet.

In 2006, he appeared in Omkara, an adaptation of Shakespeare's play Othello.[7] He played the character of Kesu, based on the character Michael Cassio in the original play. After seeing Oberoi's performance, Gulzar congratulated him.[8]

In 2007, he acted as the gangster Maya Dolas in the multi-starrer, Shootout at Lokhandwala,

In 2008, Oberoi starred in Mission Istanbul, which was directed by Apoorva Lakhia and produced by Ekta Kapoor. He performed to the song Apun Ke Saath, produced for the film by Vikas Kohli, at the 2008 International Indian Film Academy Awards.[9]

In 2009 he had a supporting role in Kurbaan. He also asked forgiveness from Salman Khan.[10]

In 2010, he appeared in Prince, which failed to receive a good response from the audience despite initial box office success.[11] [12] In the same year, he appeared in Ram Gopal Varma's Rakht Charitra.[13] Here he played the role of a south India politician Paritala Ravi.

Oberoi is slated to play the lead role in the film, Bloody Paki, that will be directed by Shaad Ali and Shiva and produced by Mani Ratnam.[14] Vivek Oberoi's film 'Kismat Love Paisa Dilli', which released in October 2012, failed to impress the audience and was a box office failure.[15] Vivek produced a film named "Watch Indian Circus" in 2011.[16] The film got featured in 16th Busan Film festival which had thousands of people as the audience, in the age group of 16–40 years who voted the Film as the Best and made it win the Audience Choice Award for Best Film from 3000 films worldwide and amongst 380 films screened.In 16 years of the History of Busan, this is the First Indian Film to win this acclaimed and prestigious award. The Film has already received rave reviews from International Critics and reporters from Hollywood Reporter, Variety and Screen International.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-17">[17] Oberoi will also dub the voice of Electro in the Hindi-dubbed version of The Amazing Spider-Man 2, set to be released in May 2014.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-18">[18]

Philanthropy
Oberoi was awarded the Red and White Bravery Award in 2006 for helping re-build a village which was hit severely by the Tsunami. Oberoi, at the age of 28, was in Chennai when disaster struck and assembled six truckloads of relief supplies and also adopted a tsunami-ravaged village in the Cuddalore district of Tamil Nadu.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-19">[19] Oberoi and his family founded The Yashodhara Oberoi Foundation (YOF). Oberoi serves as the World Health Organization's anti-tobacco spokesperson. He is involved with several charities in Chennai and Mumbai. His work with Project Hope to bring relief to victims of the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami earned him a Good Samaritan Award from Rotary International.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-20">[20]

He did a lot of philanthropic activities such as Project Devi, Cancer Patients Aid Association and Banyan, which works towards rehabilitating mentally challenged homeless women. In all, Vivek has donated about Rs 3 million (Rs 30 lakh) and helped raise Rs 25 million (Rs 250 lakh).<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-21">[21]

Other Activities
Oberoi was a judge for the Miss Sri Lanka Online contest in 2012.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-22">[22]

Personal life
On 29 October 2010, Vivek Oberoi married Priyanka Alva, daughter of Karnataka minister Jeevaraj Alva, in Bangalore.The couple is blessed with a son, Vivaan Veer Oberoi, born 6 February 2013 .<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-23">[23]

He credits Kareena Kapoor as his inspiration for adopting a vegetarian diet, and he has often turned up on PETA's annual list of Sexiest Vegetarians.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-24">[24] <sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-25">[25]

Awards
List of awards and nominations received by Vivek Oberoi

Dubbing career
In 2010, Oberoi has spoke over his own roles in Tamil for the Prince and Rakta Charitra films.

In 2014, Oberoi has led his voice to Jamie Foxx's role as Max Dillon/Electro who is the main villain in the Hindi dubbed version of The Amazing Spider-Man 2.