Bollywood Star Vivek Oberoi's Harrowing Experience with Cross-Border Threats
In a shocking revelation that highlights the dark underbelly of Bollywood's connection with organized crime, actor Vivek Oberoi has disclosed that he received life-threatening calls from Pakistan-based gangsters while filming his 2009 movie Kurbaan in the United States.
The Terrifying Hotel Room Threat
The incident occurred when Oberoi was staying at a hotel during the production of Kurbaan in the US. The threatening message was left on his hotel room's answering machine system, containing explicit death threats that immediately raised red flags. According to the actor, the message included chilling words like "khatam kar denge" and "uda denge" - direct threats to eliminate him.
"I was shooting for Kurbaan in the US and they left a threat on the answering machine system," Oberoi recalled in his recent interview. Following standard protocol, he reported the incident to American authorities, triggering an immediate investigation into the matter.
From Suspicion to Genuine Fear
Initially, the actor admitted he didn't take the threats seriously, suspecting it might be an elaborate prank or drunk calls. "Because initially, I wasn't taking it seriously and I thought someone is just messing with me," he confessed. However, the situation escalated dramatically when law enforcement agencies traced the threatening number back to Pakistan and confirmed it was a legitimate flagged number.
"They traced that number back to Pakistan. And they said it's a real number which has been flagged, that's when I got scared," Oberoi revealed, describing the moment the threat became terrifyingly real.
Security Measures and Family Protection
The investigation necessitated hiring legal representation in the United States, with Oberoi engaging a lawyer to handle the complex international situation. Meanwhile, the threats expanded to include his family members back in India, forcing the actor to implement comprehensive security measures.
"When I came back here, I had to take police security, that's when the fear became real because then the threats started coming to the family, that started scaring you," Oberoi explained. The actor had to arrange for additional security protection for his loved ones, marking a significant turning point in the ordeal.
This incident serves as a stark reminder of the persistent challenges faced by Bollywood personalities during the late 1990s and early 2000s, when underworld elements frequently targeted film industry professionals. The era witnessed several high-profile cases, including the shootings of prominent filmmakers Gulshan Kumar and Rakesh Roshan.
Currently, Vivek Oberoi has relocated with his wife and children to the UAE, where they have been residing for the past few years. His revelation sheds new light on the extent of cross-border criminal threats that continue to concern Indian celebrities and the ongoing need for robust security protocols in the entertainment industry.
