'Hrithik made Vivek work on his physique' Yashodhra Oberoi on her special child

A friend. A mother. Yashodhra Oberoi is all that and more for her son Vivek.

She describes him as the companion she had when his father Suresh Oberoi was away at outdoor shootings:

For me, Vivek has always been a special child. He was my companion in the early days in Pune, when Suresh was studying at FTII (Film and Television Institute of India, Pune). When we shifted to Mumbai, he was my mate when Suresh was busy with work.

He was a mischievous child, very active and always asking intelligent questions. They say kids bring their own luck to their parents. Both [daughter] Meghna and Vivek did. Meghna more so. When she came into our lives, we had a house, a car... Things were more settled.

Suresh was more lenient with their studies. That is why they would always get their reports signed from their father. I remember coming home late, checking Vivek's journals to see whether he had finished his homework, etc. I remember drawing frogs for him or sometimes waking him up to make sure he finished his homework, no matter how late it was.

It was a tough task to make sure they grew up as normal children. Once in standard X, Vivek came back from school and said, "Mama, you know this actor told his son he will gift him a Jaguar if he tops the class!"

I told him to tell his friend, "I am not going to get a car from my dad. I am going to earn it myself!'

As a teenager, Vivek was a rebel. Even though he was moving with his peers and a crowd I was not too thrilled about, he was always disciplined about acting, dubbing and dancing. But if he ever got into trouble, he would always call his dad to bail him out because they are close they share.

Vivek has the 'gift of the gab'. He can talk about any situation or any problem if he is convinced. He loves watching the television or playing computer games with his father. I have noticed lately that even after a hard day's work, he prefers to read or play a game on his PC before he goes off to sleep.

Vivek and Suresh share a similar outlook. They both don't suffer fools easily, are very outspoken and believe in speaking their mind. They cannot stand hypocrites. They can refuse a film without playing any games or beating around the bush.

What he inherits from me is a love for books and a deep belief in God. He is also a very simple person with a lot of inner strength and conviction. He doesn't get shaken easy. The world could say anything but if he believes in it, he will go ahead and do it.

Vivek got a little complacent once he decided he would be a part of the film world. But once he saw Hrithik in Kaho Naa... Pyaar Hai, he started working on his physique. I think the hype and hysteria around Hrithik made him more focused about his work. And the competition of the new entrants in the film industry had a positive effect on him.

I must admit Suresh's faith in him was unshakeable. He was the first one to recognise Vivek's calibre. He went to Ramuji with Vivek's pictures and his video and said, 'My son is going to be a super star! He is 100 per cent better than any of the new actors you have ever worked with.'

We went on the sets only once: at the mahurat of Saathiya, which Shaad Ali is directing.

Vivek doesn't encourage or discourage us. But being an actor's wife, I know it can be quite distracting to have family on the sets. So we try and avoid it.

He enjoys his work.He takes a very keen interest in the scripts and the movies he signs. But he follows his instincts about his films.

Suresh and Vivek do have these long sessions where he tells his father which movie he would like to do, what he likes about the particular script. He prefers not to be involved in money matters, choosing to only concentrate on his director, his scenes and his work.

He likes to do films that challenge his capabilities as an actor. It gives him a high. Also he loves sharing a good vibe with his director, like with Ramuji [Company] and his costars on the sets. He was full of praise for Ajay Devgan [his co-star in Company], who helped him with his shots and guided him.

A day before Company released, Vivek was quite nervous. We had prayers and a havan in the house to pray for his success.

He was also tense because of media speculation and the constant buzz about the film. Expectations had skyrocketed and he was worried about whether he would be able to fulfill it.

For us, it was nothing new. I've seen it happen with every film of Suresh's. You can never overcome the butterflies. And once the news spread, the phone just would not stop ringing!

As told to Arti R

Also Read:
'I give you Vivek Oberoi!'
'Vivek is a perfectionist'