Vivek Anand Oberoi is an Indian actor turned entrepreneur known for his early Bollywood hits and later business ventures
He was born on 3 September 1976. Over the years, he has seen big successes, setbacks, and reinvention. Today he is not just an actor but also a businessman with a large net worth and many projects.
This article covers his early life, family, acting career, business & non-film work, personal life, controversies, challenges, key statistics and FAQ’s.
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Table of Contents
Vivek Oberoi’s Biography
Early Life & Education
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Date and Place of Birth: He was born on 3 September 1976 in Hyderabad (then Andhra Pradesh, now Telangana), India.1
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Family: His father is veteran actor Suresh Oberoi, and his mother is Yashodhara Oberoi. Both parents are Punjabi. Through his upbringing, he developed some familiarity with South Indian languages because of his mother’s roots and time spent in South India.
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Schooling & Early Training: He studied at Mayo College, Ajmer, and then at Mithibai College, Mumbai. He also trained in acting. His education includes attending a workshop in London and a course in acting in New York.
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Early Business Exposure: From young age, his father encouraged him to be entrepreneurial. Vivek Oberoi has said he started doing small sales work at about age 10 (selling items like electronics, perfumes) and kept profits. This taught him business discipline early on.2
Acting Career
Breakthrough & Early Success (2002–2005)
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Vivek made his film debut in 2002 with Company, directed by Ram Gopal Varma. The movie was both critically acclaimed and a commercial success. He won two Filmfare Awards: Best Male Debut and Best Supporting Actor.
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In the same year, he also acted in Road and Saathiya. Saathiya was a big hit and earned him a Best Actor nomination at Filmfare.
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Subsequent hit films in this period include Masti (2004), Yuva (2004), Kaal (2005), Kisna: The Warrior Poet (2005). Some of them had mixed results, but they established him as a rising actor.
Critical Acclaim, Challenges, and Peak (2006–2013)
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In 2006, he had a praised role in Omkara, an adaptation of Shakespeare’s Othello, directed by Vishal Bhardwaj. His performance was appreciated.
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In 2007 he played Maya Dolas in Shootout at Lokhandwala. The movie was a commercial success and his role got him noticed.
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There were ups and downs in the next years. Some films did well, others less so. He earned praise for supporting roles in Kurbaan and others. He also did the Grand Masti and Krrish 3 type of films which gave him box office success in the later phase.
Recent Years (2017-Present)
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Vivek also expanded into South Indian cinema. He has done villainous and substantial roles in Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam etc. Examples are Vivegam (Tamil), Lucifer, Vinaya Vidheya Rama, Kaduva.
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He also appeared in web series (OTT) and short films. For instance, Verses of War (2022) is a short war film.
Business & Ventures
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Vivek Oberoi is not only an actor. He has built a business empire, with estimated net worth in the range of ₹1,200 crore as of recent reports.3
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One of his significant business ventures is a student-loan financing start-up (non-collateralised), which reached many institutions and students. It is valued at about US$400 million, roughly ₹3,400 crore, in reports.
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He has invested in many companies. In one interview, he said he has invested in 29 companies.
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Real estate, education financing, and business holdings beyond films have kept him financially secure, especially during periods when film roles were sparse.
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Personal Life
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Marriage & Family: Vivek Oberoi married Priyanka Alva on 29 October 2010. She is the daughter of politician Jeevaraj Alva. They have two children.4
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Previous Relationships: Before marriage, he was in a high-profile relationship with actress Aishwarya Rai. That relationship ended with controversy and media attention.
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Background & Traits: He is known to speak multiple languages, trained in various arts, and has said he worked hard on his acting skills (including dubbing, training etc.)
Every time I speak with an Indian working abroad, be it a nurse in Dubai, a tech founder in California, or a construction worker in Muscat, I am reminded of one truth: the story of India is written not just within our borders but across continents.
For decades, the sweat and…
— Vivek Anand Oberoi (@vivekoberoi) September 19, 2025
Controversies & Setbacks
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Vivek has spoken openly about how he believes powerful lobbies in Bollywood impacted his career. He claims projects were taken away, work was sabotaged, and he felt excluded despite good performances.
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He has also claimed that he received threats from the underworld, and at one point had to have armed protection for himself and family. 5
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A business dispute: There has been a case where he alleged that business partners duped him. For example, over the company Oberoi Organics that later involved other partners.6
Statistics Table
| Category | Detail |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Vivek Anand Oberoi |
| Date of Birth | 3 September 1976Â |
| Place of Birth | Hyderabad (now Telangana), India |
| Parents | Father: Suresh Oberoi; Mother: Yashodhara Oberoi |
| Spouse | Priyanka Alva, married since 2010Â |
| Children | Two |
| Education | Mayo College Ajmer; Mithibai College Mumbai; acting workshop in London; further acting studies |
| Notable Films | Company, Saathiya, Yuva, Omkara, Shootout at Lokhandwala, Krrish 3, etc. |
| Net Worth (recent-estimate) | Approx ₹1,200 crore |
| Business Ventures | Student loan financing start-up; real estate; investments in multiple companies (about 29)Â |
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FAQ’s
Q1. What was his first film?
A: His debut in Bollywood was Company (2002), directed by Ram Gopal Varma.
Q2. Did he win major awards?
A: Yes. He won Filmfare Awards for Best Male Debut and Best Supporting Actor for Company. He also got nominations for other films like Saathiya.
Q3. Why did his career go through a dip?
A: According to Vivek’s interviews, several factors: lobby culture, fewer roles offered despite good performances, projects being taken away, and controversies. He has also said that he shifted more toward business because of these.
Q4. What are his major business interests?
A: Education financing (student loan venture), real estate, investments in many companies. His business holdings have helped him tide over lean periods in acting.
Q5. Is he active in South Indian cinema?
A: Yes. He has played roles in Tamil, Malayalam and Telugu films, often as antagonist or in substantial character roles. Examples: Vivegam, Lucifer, Kaduva, Vinaya Vidheya Rama.
Q6. What controversies has he been involved in?
A: Some of the major controversies include his claims about being threatened, sabotage, losing roles due to industry politics, and also business disputes including allegations of being duped by partners. Also, media controversies around his personal relationships.
Q7. What is his recent or upcoming work?
A: He remains active. Projects include films in South cinema and OTT/web series. Also, the Masti franchise is returning (Masti 4).
Conclusion
Vivek Oberoi’s journey in Indian cinema is a story of talent, resilience, and reinvention. From his impactful debut in Company to memorable roles in Saathiya, Yuva, and Shootout at Lokhandwala, he has showcased versatility as an actor.
Despite facing ups and downs in his career, Vivek has never shied away from experimenting with different genres and challenging roles.
Beyond films, he has built a strong reputation as a philanthropist, entrepreneur, and social worker, dedicating time and resources to causes such as education, healthcare, and disaster relief. His commitment to both art and social good has earned him respect within and outside the industry.
As he continues to balance cinema, business, and humanitarian work, Vivek Oberoi remains a prominent figure who proves that an actor’s legacy is defined not just by the roles they play on screen but also by the impact they create in real life.
His career stands as an inspiring example of determination, growth, and the pursuit of meaningful contributions to society.
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