Bollywood actor Vivek Oberoi has once again opened up about the darkest phase of his career, claiming that powerful people in the film industry tried to destroy his career after his controversial fallout with Salman Khan in 2003.
Speaking on the Relearn podcast, Vivek alleged that filmmakers were warned against working with him and that several projects slipped out of his hands despite his successful films.
Recalling the difficult period, he said he faced bullying for standing up against something he believed was wrong.
“It was a very dark phase in my life. I tried to stand up for something,” he said, adding that he believed women should always be treated with respect.
According to Vivek, a powerful lobby in Bollywood turned against him, making him unwelcome in the industry.
He claimed that several filmmakers who had initially agreed to work with him later backed out after allegedly receiving threatening calls from underworld gangsters.
Vivek described the experience as “real hell, real misery”.
The controversy dates back to 2003, when Vivek held a sensational press conference accusing Salman Khan of repeatedly calling and threatening him.
The incident created a major controversy in Bollywood and reportedly affected Vivek’s professional and personal life.
In an earlier interview in 2024, Vivek revealed that the police had provided him with an armed security guard and a gun following threats to his safety.
Interestingly, Vivek had made a promising debut with Company in 2002 and followed it up with successful films such as Saathiya and Yuva.
However, his career witnessed several ups and downs after the controversy.
He later appeared in films such as Shootout at Lokhandwala, Krrish 3 and Lucifer, but could not regain the momentum he enjoyed during his initial years.
More recently, Vivek played Vidyutjihva in Nitesh Tiwari’s Ramayana, starring Ranbir Kapoor, Yash and Sai Pallavi.
He is also part of Sandeep Reddy Vanga’s upcoming film Spirit, featuring Prabhas and Triptii Dimri.
Vivek’s latest revelations have once again brought attention to his long-standing allegations about Bollywood politics, powerful industry lobbies and the professional setbacks he faced after the 2003 controversy.
