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what happened to vivek oberoi

Vivek Oberoi is absolutely fine today, still active in films and business; what “happened” to him is mostly about an old career setback, a serious accident, and his later shift to Dubai and entrepreneurship.

What happened to Vivek Oberoi?

1. The big 2003 controversy

In the early 2000s, Vivek Oberoi was one of Bollywood’s most promising young stars after films like Company and Saathiya.

In 2003, he held a now‑infamous press conference accusing Salman Khan of threatening him, at a time when he was reportedly in a relationship with Aishwarya Rai.

That press conference changed the course of his career:

  • Many producers and directors allegedly distanced themselves.
  • Several projects he had already signed were reportedly cancelled.
  • He has said he felt sidelined, faced harassment, and even slipped into depression afterward.

On forums and social media, people still debate whether that move was brave or impulsive, “hero” or “attention seeker,” even 20 years later.

“Today Vivek Oberoi’s press conference completes 20 years. Is he a hero or attention seeker in your opinion?” – typical discussion thread prompt.

2. The serious accident people forget about

A lesser‑known part of “what happened” to him is a near‑fatal accident in the early 2000s.
His former fitness trainer, Vinod Channa, revealed that a serious mishap and the long‑term physical trauma were major reasons for his reduced presence in films, not just industry politics.

Key points from that phase:

  • The accident left him with multiple injuries.
  • It happened around 2002 while shooting the film Road , during a night drive from Bikaner to Jaisalmer.
  • He has recalled that he begged the driver to slow down before things went horribly wrong.
  • The incident shook him so deeply that he still avoids sitting in the front seat of a car.

According to his trainer, this physical suffering made regular film work difficult and contributed to his gradual stepping away from back‑to‑back Bollywood projects.

3. Career slowdown, money issues… and bounce‑back

After the 2003 controversy and the accident fallout, Vivek’s mainstream Bollywood run clearly slowed.

He has later admitted that he went through patches of financial trouble and saw the “volatile and uncertain” side of the industry.

Yet over time, he:

  1. Continued acting in selected Hindi films and multilingual projects.
  2. Moved into business and investments, building what Indian media has described as a large “business empire.”
  1. Started choosing fewer but more strategic screen appearances instead of a film‑a‑year kind of career.

Recent coverage describes him as someone who once faced an informal boycott but now owns a sizeable business portfolio and still has several films lined up.

4. Where is he now? (Dubai, family, upcoming work)

Vivek Oberoi is currently based largely in Dubai with his family.

He is married to Priyanka Alva and they have two children, Vivaan and Ameyaa.

Some current details:

  • He lives in a villa in the Meadows neighbourhood in Dubai and has an office in Business Bay.
  • He often shuttles between Mumbai and Dubai for work and events.
  • He is set to appear in Spirit , directed by Sandeep Reddy Vanga and starring Prabhas and Triptii Dimri.

In early March 2026, he briefly made news again when he returned to Dubai amid flight disruptions tied to US–Iran tensions.

He posted an emotional video thanking Emirates and the UAE leadership, calling the UAE “home” and talking about the anxiety of being away from his family during that tense period.

5. How forums and fans talk about him now

On Bollywood gossip boards and Reddit‑style forums, the phrase “what happened to Vivek Oberoi” usually covers a few recurring themes:

  • The 2003 press conference and whether it “destroyed” his career or showed courage.
  • Speculation that he “left Bollywood due to depression,” versus newer info from his trainer pointing to physical trauma as a core reason.
  • Conversations about how he pivoted into business and real estate and seems financially strong today despite industry ups and downs.
  • Occasional praise for his resilience and charity/public work, contrasted with criticism that he made some poor strategic decisions earlier in his career.

On many threads, you’ll see people say versions of: “He was this close to superstardom, then one press conference and a few bad calls changed everything.”

6. Quick bullet recap

If you just want the “Quick Scoop” on what happened to Vivek Oberoi:

  • He didn’t vanish; he’s alive, working, and in the news occasionally.
  • A 2003 press conference against Salman Khan led to backlash and a big career slowdown.
  • A near‑fatal 2002 accident and its long‑term physical effects also made it hard for him to keep up a heavy film schedule.
  • He has spoken about going through depression and financial struggles during the fallout years.
  • Over time, he rebuilt himself through business ventures and selective acting projects.
  • As of 2026, he is based in Dubai with his wife and two kids and will be seen in upcoming projects like Spirit.

Bottom note: Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.