‘There was no real relationship, never used his name’: Akshay opens up about cousin Vivek Oberoi

Mumbai: Actor Akshay Oberoi, known for films like Fighter, Love Hostel, Fitoor and Piku, has spoken candidly about his distant relationship with cousin Vivek Oberoi and uncle, veteran actor Suresh Oberoi. In a recent interview with Free Press Journal, Akshay revealed that he never used his family ties to gain a foothold in Bollywood, not out of pride, but because “there was no real relationship to begin with.”

“Nobody knew we were related. Not even the casting people,” Akshay said. “I never used that to my benefit. I never said it because what would I get? It’s not like I could call and approach him either, you know. Unfortunately, I don’t say it with pride, I say it with sadness — that there was no real relationship. So, what would I call and ask him? I just went about my own way.”

When asked whether Vivek’s career setbacks ever affected his own journey, Akshay clarified that no one had ever directly brought it up, and it never crossed his mind to seek help. “I was very sure that no one was going to help me. I didn’t have a mentor, godfather, or guidance in this line,” he added.

He also shared that only recently, as his own career has gained momentum, have people begun to connect the dots. “ Journalists ask me, directors I’ve worked with in the past say, ‘You never told me.’ And I’m like — what could I have told you? To share something, something has to exist, right? Our families never got along, and here I was.”

Despite the emotional distance, Akshay expressed respect for the Oberoi family’s contribution to Indian cinema. “Maybe we were just unlucky as a family in that way. He and his father are both very good actors, and I’m honoured to be from that lineage. But it would have been fun if we could have done it together,” he said.

On the work front, Akshay Oberoi will next be seen in Sunny Sanskari Ki Tulsi Kumari, alongside Varun Dhawan and Janhvi Kapoor. The film, directed by Shashank Khaitan and produced by Karan Johar’s Dharma Productions, also features Rohit Saraf, Sanya Malhotra, and Maniesh Paul. It is set to release in theatres on October 2.