Vivek Oberoi recalls the time when he ‘almost died’ while shooting for Road in Rajasthan; says, ‘I reclined my seat and...’

Vivek, who starred in Road alongside Antara Mali and Manoj Bajpayee, shared that the incident took place during a late-night journey from Bikaner to Jaisalmer in Rajasthan.

Vivek Oberoi has opened up about a life-threatening incident from the early days of his career that changed him forever. In a recent interview with Mashable India, the actor revisited a near-death experience that occurred during the filming of his 2002 thriller Road.

Vivek, who starred in Road alongside Antara Mali and Manoj Bajpayee, shared that the incident took place during a late-night journey from Bikaner to Jaisalmer in Rajasthan. Though the roads were scenic, the darkness made visibility extremely low, and Vivek repeatedly urged the driver to slow down. Recalling the moment, he said, "I told the driver at least 15 to 20 times to drive slowly; ‘it is night, visibility is low, drive slowly.' I was in the front seat, and after that incident, I haven't sat in the front seat ever."

But despite his warnings, disaster struck within moments. Vivek narrated how he had reclined his seat just before a violent crash shook the vehicle. "I reclined my seat and suddenly there was a huge crash, a massive sound. On the road, suddenly, a camel cart came, which was carrying rods. The rods had smashed the windshield, and if my seat had been straight, those rods would have gone into my body. I couldn't get out of the car because the rods were above me. But I was unscathed. Almost died. After that, I decided not to travel at night."

The actor also recounted another troubling experience involving a reckless driver during a different journey. This time, he decided to take matters into his own hands. “Later, when I was with a driver, he did the same. He was speeding, so I told him to stop the car and use the washroom. I told him to get down and go to the washroom. I came on his side, took the key, and drove off without him," Vivek said.

Also read: Vivek Oberoi’s Dubai home in the Meadows blends luxury, nature and simplicity

The actor also spoke about his early training days in the film industry. Before making his Bollywood debut, he spent time assisting Farah Khan, learning the ropes from the ground up. "To train, I used to assist Farah for a long time. I started from cleaning the rehearsal rooms and bringing tea to all the dancers and from there I went up. I never told anybody who my dad was. I kept that out.”

Up next, Vivek will be seen in Mastiii 4, the fourth instalment in the adult comedy franchise that began in 2004. The film, directed by Milap Zaveri and also starring Riteish Deshmukh and Aftab Shivdasani, is slated to release in theatres on November 21, 2025.