Vivek Oberoi Slept On Benches, Changed In Restaurant Toilets During Saathiya Shoot: 'Had No Budget...'

Vivek Oberoi had a promising start in Bollywood. His debut came in Ram Gopal Varma’s highly praised gangster drama, Company, alongside Ajay Devgn and Mohanlal. Following this, he starred in another RGV production, Road. After starring in two consecutive action-packed movies, Vivek took on the lead role in Shaad Ali’s romantic film, Saathiya. In a recent interview, Vivek recalled how RGV had advised him against accepting the role in Saathiya. He also discussed the difficulties he faced while filming the Yash Raj Films production, which included changing clothes in restaurant restrooms and sleeping on benches due to budget limitations.

Vivek told Humans of Bombay, “Everybody said don’t so Saathiya. ‘You are an action hero. How can you do a love story?’ But that wasn’t the film. My mentor, Ram Gopal Varma, was furious. He said ‘No, don’t do this film.’ I was like better than taking permission, I will ask for forgiveness. I loved the film. Saathiya’s director Shaad Ali is my school friend. He was initially making the film with Abhishek Bachchan but that didn’t work out. I already had my debut film, Company.”

Reflecting on the challenges faced while filming the 2002 movie, the actor mentioned, “During the shoot of Saathiya, Company hadn’t been released yet. “I was shooting on railway stations, I used to be sleeping on the benches because we had no budget. I used to change clothes in restaurant toilets because I didn’t have a makeup van. We had to shoot four scenes in a day. We were shooting for 18-20 hours a day. There was a time when I was carrying equipment, I had gone back to my assistant days after my debut,” he said.

Vivek also talked about the security measures during Saathiya’s filming when Rani Mukerji was there and how his life changed post the film. At that time, not many people knew him, and he went unnoticed. But things changed after Company released. Vivek remembered a big moment when lots of fans showed up at the Saathiya set, chanting “Chandu Bhai,” his character’s name from Company. This sudden attention led to Vivek leaving the location in a police van.