‘Prince is not only my biggest but also the costliest film which Tips has produced till date’.      - Vivek Oberoi

On the eve of the release of his latest film Prince, VIVEK OBEROI confesses to Jyothi Venkatesh over a cup of steaming hot cup of coffee at Hotel Sun N Sand, that he was in that phase of career at that point when he was offered the part of Prince that doing a solo film was actually a dangerous proposition for an actor like him.

Q: How did you bag the offer to play the title role in Prince?
A: I was shooting quite close to Kookie Gulati’s house. I knew him because we had done a couple of music videos and have great respect for his work. Kookie asked me if I wanted to do a big action film and I was game because I have not done an action film for quite some time. I was floored when he showed me a previs DVD. Earlier in my career, no one had shown me a previs DVD. It s an animation form of story board which helps an actor know the various angles of action sequences that he is going to shoot for a film.

Q: Were you nervous to take up the project since you were going through a lean phase as an actor?
A: More than being nervous, to tell you the truth, I was quite scared. I was in that phase of career at that point when I was offered the part of Prince that doing a solo film was actually a dangerous proposition for an actor like me. Frankly I took up the offer only because producer Kumar Taurani believed that I could pull off the film by delivering as an actor. Kumar Taurani is an amazing producer in the truest sense of the term.

Q: Can you elucidate?
A: A film like Prince which is as big and adventurous on this scale which tries to push the envelope needs a producer with vision like him. I understand where I stand as far as the hierarchy of box office actors, as far as returns is concerned and hence I was honest enough to ask him whether he was sure that I would do justice to his project. Honestly speaking more than my own ability to take on the project that spurred me to say yes to him was his belief in me which made me feel that I can do.

Q: What is Prince all about?
A: Prince is the story of a thief who wakes up one morning only to realize that he has lost his memory and his life is at stake. His memory gets stolen and he has just six days to live and save himself. The extreme action thriller has some high voltage action sequences promises to entertain and enthrall all. The movie also stars Nandana Sen, Aruna Shields and Neeru Singh, besides me in the romantic leads.

Q: Tell me about the role that you are playing in Prince?
I play the title role of the Prince, who is ambidextrous because he writes with both his hands. It was not an easy character for me to play as an actor. Allan Amin was the action director and we had on board on the sets a nutritionist, a martial arts expert from Thailand and a gym instructor, because I had to drive a stunt bike and a skate board in some dare devil sequences for the film

Q: How tough was it for you to prepare for your part as an actor?
A: It is not only my biggest but also the costliest film which Tips has produced till date. I did not prepare for my part by setting out to watch some of the foreign action films because I am of the opinion that if you start watching, you will only end up borrowing from other actors. I started feeling, becoming and understanding Prince while I was rehearsing for my part. I had to keep in mind the fact that Prince is very vulnerable and hence to constantly create a balance between vulnerability and confidence was quite a tough task for me as an actor.

Q: What do you like about Kookie as a director?
A: What I like about Kookie is that he knows his work from the backside of his palm. Kookie even went to Paris to meet Nicholas for action and editing of Prince. While praising him sky high by stating that Kookie is one of the best that I have worked with till date, I would also not at all hesitate to say that he is also the worst narrator in the world. These days, most of the actors ask for a bound script because we tend to get carried away by the narration. Prince is actually my 22nd film. I have been a part of the film industry for the last eight years. I have seen a lot of directors and also gone through hundreds of narrations of various stories. I have worked with many new directors.

Q: Considering the fact that you had a fall out with Ramu, how did you rediscover your chemistry?
A: It was fantastic rediscovering the great chemistry that we had shared in Company, once again while we were shooting for Ramu’s Rakta Charitra. Ramu called me and asked me whether I’d like to work with him in a film. He told me that it would be the best role in my career after Company. Ramu added that every time he thought of a serious character, he could think only of me.

Q: Tell me about your role in Rakta Charitra?
A: I play the character of Ravi in it. Ramu told me that though he is introducing Surya from the South in Rakta Charitra, he told me that he wanted to cast me in it, because the film needed an antagonist who is powerful and intense. Rakta Charitra has been made in two parts I have acted in all the three languages- Hindi, Tamil and Telugu.

Q: Were you shattered when Kurban on which you had banked a lot nosedived at the box office?
A: Films come with their own destiny. I have always maintained that there is no fixed formula for either success or failure. I was of course disappointed with the box office failure of Karan Johar’s Kurban directed by Renzil Dsylva but quite happy with the rave reviews that my performance fetched for me as a actor.

Q: Insiders insist that you have been signed for two big banner projects!
A: Yes but I am not allowed to divulge the details now, because it is quite premature. All I can say right now is that I have now been signed for two big films by two different big banners and will be soon off to U.K to shoot for them.

Q: What prompted you to take up the offer to act in the play Kingdom of God?
A: I will be a part of the big budget musical play called Kingdom of Dreams which, believe it or not is a 200 crores project by Whizcraft and the government of India. The highlight of the play is that Javed Akhtar has written the lyrics while Shankar Ehsaan and Loy have composed all the songs. Omang Kumar has designed the sets while Nita Lulla is the costume designer for it. The star cast comprises of great talent from U.K besides me. Allan Amin will do live action for the two hours long play. The government wants to make it a part of Incredible India campaign and it will be staged in Gudgaon for two months. The reson I took up the offer is that my roots are from the theatre. From the street theatre to the professional theatre, I have done the whole gamut of the stage.