Powerful voice, intense acting and never-say-die attitude, this is the identity of veteran actor Suresh Oberoi. In films, he made every role of hero, villain and supporting character special. Very few people know that to step into this world of dreams, he came to Mumbai with only Rs 400.
Birth in Pakistan, pain of partition
Suresh Oberoi was born on 17 December 1946 in Quetta. Which was part of British India at that time and is today in Pakistan. Real name is Vishal Kumar Oberoi. He was only one year old at the time of partition but this tragedy changed the life of his entire family.
Everything left, hardships began
His father Anand Sarup Oberoi was in real estate business. But after coming to India, all the property was left there. Money ran out and the family had to face difficult circumstances. Many times the situation was such that they had to spend the day eating only bread and sugar.
Father’s courage and new beginning
Instead of accepting defeat from the situation, his father took a big risk. Hiding his identity, he went to Pakistan and sold his property there and returned to India with the money he got. With the same money, the family was settled in Hyderabad and later they started a chain of medical stores and gradually life came back on track.
Dream of acting and initial struggle
Suresh Oberoi was fond of acting since childhood. He wanted to become a hero but the journey was not easy. He started his career with radio shows. His heavy and impressive voice brought him recognition. After this, he did theater and took acting training from FTII, Pune.
Journey from debut to recognition
He made his Bollywood debut in the year 1977 with the film ‘Jeevan Mukt’. Initially he got lead roles, but his real recognition came from supporting and negative roles. By becoming a villain, he left such an impact on the screen that people still remember his character.
Strong performance in more than 100 films
Suresh Oberoi won everyone’s heart with his acting in more than 100 films like ‘Laawaris’, ‘Namak Halal’, ‘Vidhaata’, ‘Raja Hindustani’, ‘Gadar: Ek Prem Katha’, ‘Lajja’, ‘Pyaar Tune Kya Kiya’ and ‘Kabir Singh’.
Got big recognition from National Award
He received the National Film Award for Best Supporting Actor for the role of a village clerk in the 1987 film ‘Mirch Masala’. This proved to be the turning point of his career.
Also prominent in TV and hosting
Along with films, Suresh Oberoi was also seen in TV shows. His work was liked in shows like ‘Dhadkan’ and ‘Kashmir’. Apart from this, he also hosted popular shows like ‘Jeena Isi Ka Naam Hai’.
Still active, effective in every role
Even in recent years, Suresh Oberoi has been continuously active. He again left his mark in the role of Bajirao II in ‘Manikarnika: The Queen of Jhansi’ and Shahid Kapoor’s father in ‘Kabir Singh’. His performance in the blockbuster film ‘Animal’ released in 2023 has been much talked about.
Suresh Oberoi married Yashodhara in Chennai, who belongs to the Panja B family. They have two children, son Vivek Oberoi who is a well-known actor while daughter Meghna Oberoi stays away from the limelight. This journey, which started with just Rs 400, has reached crores of hearts today. The story of Suresh Oberoi proves that if there is talent and hard work, no dream remains unfulfilled.
