There are Bollywood controversies that disappear with the next Friday release, and then there are those that become part of the industry's folklore. The Salman Khan-Vivek Oberoi feud belongs firmly to the second category.
More than two decades after a young Vivek Oberoi called a press conference and publicly accused Salman Khan of threatening him, the episode continues to resurface whenever either actor is asked about the other.
At the centre of the controversy was a dramatic claim: Oberoi said Salman Khan had called him 41 times between the night of March 30 and the early hours of March 31, 2003, allegedly abusing and threatening him.
So, what exactly happened between Salman Khan and Vivek Oberoi, and how did a late-night phone-call controversy become one of Bollywood's most enduring feuds?
The backdrop: Salman Khan, Aishwarya Rai and Vivek Oberoi
In the early 2000s, Salman Khan and Aishwarya Rai were one of the most famous couples in Bollywood. However, in March 2002, Aishwarya officially confirmed that they had broken up. Her public statement and subsequent interviews exposed the turbulent end of their relationship.
Around the same period, Vivek Oberoi was emerging as one of Hindi cinema's most promising young actors.
Oberoi had made a striking debut in Ram Gopal Varma's Company in 2002 and followed it with Road and Saathiya. His performances earned him major industry recognition, including Filmfare Awards for Best Debut and Best Supporting Actor for Company.
Subsequently, Vivek Oberoi and Aishwarya Rai became romantically linked. The couple made public appearances, and their joint travels confirmed their relationship.
(Image Credit: TDJ Graphics)
April 1, 2003: The Press Conference That Changed Everything
On April 1, 2003, Vivek Oberoi called the media to his residence in Juhu, Mumbai.
According to Times of India, Oberoi alleged that between approximately 12:30 am and 5 am, Salman Khan had called him 41 times. Oberoi alleged that the calls involved abuse and threats, and said that Khan had objected to his relationship with Aishwarya Rai.
He also alleged that Khan had referred to links with the underworld and threatened to kill him. Oberoi also alleged that the conversation had extended to his family and claimed that his father, actor Suresh Oberoi, had been abused.
The allegations immediately became national news.
The following day, Salman Khan denied the allegations. When asked about the situation during interviews, he straight-up denied threatening Oberoi. His brother Arbaaz Khan also publicly dismissed them as false and baseless.
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Immediate Aftermath: Silence Of Bollywood And Backlash
Vivek Oberoi's decision to publicly accuse Salman Khan in April 2003 went beyond a personal confrontation. By taking the alleged threats to the media, the then-rising actor was challenging an established superstar in an industry where professional relationships and commercial equations carried considerable weight.
Oberoi repeatedly said the controversy had a damaging impact on his career. In a 2017 interview with Hindustan Times, he described the experience as being like ‘a fatwa’ being issued against him and said, “Even if I gave a hit, work wouldn't follow. Shootout at Lokhandwala became a huge hit, but I sat at home for a year after that.”
Oberoi has made similar claims in more recent interviews. In 2024, he said to the Times of India that “a bunch of people, who had a lot of power in Bollywood, decided, You are not going to work here anymore; we will make sure that happens.” He described himself as having felt like a victim within the industry.
However, there is no publicly established evidence of a formal industry-wide boycott of Oberoi. The claim that Salman Khan personally prevented him from getting work has remained disputed.
Aishwarya Rai's Reaction
Aishwarya Rai did not publicly endorse Vivek Oberoi's decision to hold the 2003 press conference against Salman Khan. In a 2009 appearance on Farah Khan's talk show Tere Mere Beach Mein, Oberoi recalled that when he expected appreciation from Aishwarya for speaking out, her reaction was the opposite.
“No! Ulta yeh hua ki 'tum bahut immature ho. Apne industry mein ek dastoor hai…” he recalled her telling him. The remark was reported by the Times of India in September 2009.
Aishwarya's own public statements at the time were largely focused on distancing herself from Salman Khan and the controversy surrounding their past relationship, rather than publicly defending Vivek.
A contemporary Telegraph report also noted that she issued a statement saying she would not work with Salman again.
The Apology Years
As the years passed, Oberoi appeared increasingly interested in putting the episode behind him. He later acknowledged that taking the dispute to the press had not been the right way to handle it.
In 2009, in a public talk show on Star Plus, hosted by Farah Khan, Oberoi said that he realised the moment he sat at the press conference that it was not the right way to settle the matter.
His attempts to make peace became increasingly public. At an awards function in 2007, Oberoi joined his hands, held his ears and bowed towards Salman in an apparent gesture of apology.
Did Salman Khan Ever Forgive Vivek Oberoi?
This question has followed the two actors for years.
The public record does not show a clear, formal reconciliation between them.
In 2015, reports emerged of the two being at the same venue, with Oberoi avoiding an encounter with Salman. There were also occasional moments when their paths crossed at industry gatherings without producing a public confrontation.
Salman Khan and Vivek Oberoi: Two Careers After The Feud
The years that followed produced very different professional trajectories.
Salman Khan went on to experience a major resurgence in the late 2000s and 2010s, with films such as Wanted, Dabangg, Ek Tha Tiger, Bajrangi Bhaijaan and Sultan strengthening his position as one of Hindi cinema's biggest commercial stars.
Oberoi's career followed a more varied route. He continued appearing in Hindi films, took on supporting and negative roles, and eventually established a significant presence in South Indian cinema and streaming projects. His later work includes the Lucifer franchise and the series Indian Police Force.
FAQ
Q1. What happened between Salman Khan and Vivek Oberoi in 2003?
A1. In April 2003, Vivek Oberoi held a press conference and alleged that Salman Khan had called him 41 times during one night, abused him, and threatened him.
Q2. Did Vivek Oberoi apologise to Salman Khan?
A2. Yes. Oberoi made several public attempts to apologise or reconcile. One highly publicised incident took place at an awards function in 2007, when he joined his hands, held his ears and bowed towards Salman.
Q3. Are Salman Khan and Vivek Oberoi friends today?
A3. There has been no widely documented public reconciliation establishing that they are friends.