With
his first reality show on Zee TV 'India's Best Dramebaaz' having
premiered on Saturday, actor Vivek Oberoi reveals how early in life he
fell in love with acting.
Vivek makes his TV debut with 'India's Best Dramebaaz' as a judge along
with the gorgeous Sonali Bendre and the much-celebrated film-maker
Anurag Basu on the talent hunt show that aims to encourage and
cultivate acting talent amongst children in the age group of 5 to 12
years,
The actor says he was barely four years old when the acting ka keeda bit
him nice and hard! Vivek's teachers had chosen him and his friend to
play small roles in a school skit at Juhu's Besant Montessory school
where he studied.
But Vivek's friend had all the interesting lines to deliver while
stylishly holding a gun, and that was something that Vivek was dying to
do.
As it turned out when the arclights came on, Vivek's friend froze out of nervousness and refused to come out on the stage.
That is when Vivek came to the rescue ... seizing the gun from his
friend, he took centrestage and delivered his friend's lines with
aplomb.
The applause and the adrenaline rush that followed is something Vivek
remembers even today as the roots of his love affair with acting!
Soon thereafter, Vivek got enrolled in the Trinity College of London
where he underwent a speech and drama course under the able tutelage of
Aunty Jer Wadia.
Later, his four years at the Mayo Boarding school in Ajmer saw him
writing, directing and acting in several plays for the cultural nights
and invariably bagging the best actor and the best drama awards.
Vivek's most memorable drama competition in school was one where most
of his actors called in sick on the eve of the cultural night.
Given how painstakingly he had written and directed the play, Vivek
decided that the show must go on ... as a last minute resort, he got one
of his friends to help him backstage with multiple costume changes and
played not one but four characters in the same play!
As an hungry-to-be-actor youth, Vivek had initially been rejected by the authorities at the famous Prithvi Theatre in Mumbai.
But not one to give up, Vivek and his troupe of actors decided to
perform short impromptu skits in its cafeteria for the patrons who step
out for a muffin and coffee during the show intervals.
These flash mob like performances at Prithvi Theatre landed him his
first plum theatre project of 'Begum Sumroo' by Alyque Padamsee.
Since then, there has been no looking back for this heartthrob who went
on to get the meatiest of roles right since his debut in 'Company'.
Now, Vivek is all excited about his debut on television and said, `Over
the years, I've received many offers to work on television but it had to
be a show that I connected with."
"Besides, I've recently turned Papa and it's the ideal time for me to be
surrounded by mischievous kids. It'll give me a good heads up on what's
coming my way!`
He said, `My role on the show is more like that of a big brother to the
kids who will guide them. Had there been such wonderful avenues for
acting when I was a kid, I'd have surely participated! Also an
opportunity to
work with Zee TV is very special as my father (Suresh Oberoi) has also
made his TV debut on Zee TV.`
The show will be hosted by the vivacious and beautiful Ragini Khanna and the charming Rithvik Dhanjani.
In the coming weeks, 'India's Best Dramebaaz' will put its Top 18 child
contestants through a series of tasks and challenges that will groom
them as actors and test their creativity, spontaneity and acting
ability.
