After "Masti", Vivek Oberoi has moved on to "Kyun! Ho Gaya Na", which he describes as a pure romantic film.
"A lot of people from within the film fraternity were upset with me for having done 'Masti'. But as far as the common man is concerned, I've got my answer. And I'm very happy," Vivek says.
But wasn't it strange that Vivek should've come back after his accident with a film where he shared the marquee with two other heroes like Aftab Shivdasani and Riteish Deshmukh?
"My co-stars in 'Yuva' were Ajay Devgan and Abhishek. And yet it didn't do that well. People said, 'Oh you should've come back with 'Yuva'.
"But finally it was Masti that did
well. Anyhow, doing 'Yuva' with Mani Rathnam was a reward in itself," the articulate actor retorts.
Which movie is he more proud of?
"It isn't a matter of qualitative pride. I'm happy I took a decision to do 'Masti'. It took a lot of thought to do something like that. Believe it or not, fans
writing in on my website say they loved me in 'Masti'. They enjoyed me doing a crazy slapstick."
Vivek is completely happy with his life and sees no dichotomy between entertaining people with a raunchy comedy and working for social welfare. His charitable work with an organisation called Banyan in Chennai gives him tremendous satisfaction.
"In fact, I just
returned from Chennai... We're planning a cancer hospital in Mumbai... That's a long-term dream. So much to do and so little time! I met this great holy man in Rishikesh recently while shooting for 'Kissna'.
"When I asked him how he managed a hundred schools free of cost, he looked up and said, who am I manage anything? He does it all... I believe in that totally.
"When I
needed to go to Chennai recently, two days of my shooting got cancelled. In comparison with that holy man in Rishikesh I've very little on my plate.
"I wonder if I'm doing a good job of managing my career and my social activities! I'm going with the flow, and I'm really enjoying the
process."
On his love life, Vivek says: "Oh that doesn't need any conscious management. Thank God! It never requires an effort. It's stress-buster.
"I consider myself lucky so lucky to
have Ash. I've such an understanding and wonderful woman in my life. I must've done something good somewhere in my life to deserve this." Vivek says there are no immediate plans of marriage.
"I think it's too premature to think on those lines. The man knows when the time is right. And when the day arrives, he pops the question. If I already knew if and when marriage would
happen, there would be no thrill left in the relationship. But, yes, I'd like it to happen at some point of time. Beyond that who knows?"
Though he hasn't signed any new film after "Masti", Vivek says: "I'm on the verge of doing so. But one thing is for sure: I'll be doing the 'Masti' director Indra
Kumar's next. It'll surprise you, for sure.
"I like the way he's shifting gears. I'm looking at various other scripts. I'm really excited about Sachin Bajaj's (producer Tolu Bajaj's son) 'Baraat'. People get really confused by my career decisions. They want to know why I work with so many new
directors like Shaad Ali in 'Saathiya' and Samir Karnik in 'Kyun...Ho Gaya Na'. But I like the challenge and thrill of working with new directors."
On acting in a film directed by dad Suresh Oberoi, Vivek says: "I don't think he'll ever direct a film. Just because he has an actor at home! He's far more
interested in golf than filmmaking. I should think of buying a golf course or something."
Vivek says: "There's so much more to life than just my career. Life feels so good. Every day I've an opportunity to achieve 'moksha' (salvation). When the other day an very old inmate at Banyan tied me
a friendship band, that was moksha."