Vivek Oberoi shares how his partner rebuilt life after ₹100 crore loss and opens up about a life-changing lesson from his mother

Actor-entrepreneur Vivek Oberoi, with an estimated net worth of around Rs 1,200 crore, recently spoke about the setbacks in his career that pushed him to reinvent himself beyond acting. In a conversation with News18, he shared insights on leadership, entrepreneurship, and life lessons, emphasising that while success and failure are temporary, purpose and values truly matter.

Reinventing Himself in Tough Times

Reflecting on a challenging phase in his career, Vivek said circumstances beyond his control forced him to rethink his path.

"When challenges come into your life and circumstances beyond your control start shutting doors on you, you have two choices. You can become bitter, frustrated and depressed. Or you can reinvent yourself," he said.


He added that he chose not to see himself as a victim:

"I always believed I had to move from being a victim to becoming a victor. I asked myself, 'How can I take control of my own destiny?' If one path is blocked, what else can I do? I still have my mind, my hard work and the identity God has given me."

Sharing his daily mantra, he said: "Every day, in every way, I want to become better and better."

His Definition of Leadership

Vivek believes leadership is about empowering people rather than just managing them.

"A leader is someone who takes people along on the journey. That's the biggest difference between a boss and a leader. A boss extracts work. A leader makes people feel like contributors and partners in a shared mission," he said.

Citing his business partner Ankur Aggarwal, Vivek highlighted the importance of perseverance after major setbacks after suffering financial losses exceeding Rs 100 crore.

"He never gave up. He said, 'Let's build something together.' I kept telling him that he had the qualities of a founder and a leader."

Standing by Employees in Tough Times

Speaking about a recent business crisis, Vivek said they chose not to lay off employees despite financial pressure.

"During the recent crisis, when many companies laid off employees to protect their balance sheets, we decided we would try our best not to terminate even a single employee. Difficult times affect everyone, not just business owners. That's what leadership means to me."

Recalling one of the most meaningful experiences of his life, Vivek shared the story of meeting an eight-month-old baby named Sahara during the shoot of Saathiya. She had been diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia, and her family was unable to afford the treatment. With the help of doctors and charitable organisations, Sahara eventually recovered and has since grown into a healthy young woman.

"For me, she is a living award. Those moments mean far more than trophies, resumes or numbers in my bank account."

Philosophy on Philanthropy

Despite success in films and business, Vivek finds the greatest satisfaction in giving back.

"I don't believe I've done anything extraordinary. I've simply been fortunate that a higher power chose me as a medium. I don't own these good deeds. I'm just the courier. The blessings were meant to reach someone, and I happened to deliver them," he said.

A Life-Changing Lesson from His Mother

Vivek admitted that early fame once affected his mindset, but a moment with his mother changed his perspective.

"She said, 'When you received fame, awards, money and recognition at such a young age, did you ever ask, 'Why me?'' That question changed everything."

This experience led him to value gratitude and dedicate himself to helping children battling serious illnesses.

What Truly Matters in Life

Speaking about legacy, Vivek said he is not focused on being remembered for fame. "Honestly, I don't have the ego of wanting people to remember me forever. Life is like an examination hall. Once you've written your paper, the results come later. What matters is what you do while you're here."

Advice for Dealing with Success and Failure

Ending with a key lesson from his father, Vivek shared: "He said: 'Don't live in success. Don't live in failure. Just keep working.' Success is not permanent. Failure is not permanent either. Don't panic during bad times. Don't lose your head during good times. Listen to everyone—but ultimately, follow your own path."

[With TOI inputs]