Actor Vivek Oberoi recently opened up about a chilling experience he faced while shooting his 2009 film Kurbaan in the United States. Speaking to Pinkvilla, the actor revealed that he received threatening calls from gangsters based in Pakistan, forcing him to hire security to protect his family.
Threat Calls During Film Shoot
Vivek Oberoi shared that the threats came while he was staying at a hotel during the shoot. The calls were left on the hotel’s answering machine, carrying explicit warnings such as “khatam kar denge” (we will kill you) and “uda denge”. The actor said,
“Initially, I wasn’t taking it seriously. I thought someone was just messing with me or making drunk calls. But when the authorities got involved, the reality hit me.”
Upon reporting the calls, the hotel flagged the message, and the local police traced the number back to Pakistan. Vivek recalled how the authorities confirmed the call originated from a flagged number, which escalated his concern for personal safety.
Legal and Security Measures
To handle the situation, Vivek hired a lawyer in the US and worked closely with local authorities. He admitted that the real fear began when threats extended to his family.
“When I came back to India, I had to take police security. That’s when the fear became real because then the threats started reaching the family,” he said.
A Look Back at Bollywood’s Underworld Era
Vivek Oberoi’s experience highlights a troubling period in Bollywood during the late 1990s and early 2000s, when underworld gangsters routinely extorted actors, producers, and filmmakers. Several high-profile incidents, including the murder of Gulshan Kumar and attacks on Rakesh Roshan, had earlier sent shockwaves through the industry. Despite authorities’ later interventions, threats like the ones Vivek faced show that elements of the underworld influence persisted internationally.
Current Life in UAE
Vivek has been living with his wife and children in the UAE for the past few years, prioritizing safety and privacy for his family after such unsettling experiences.
