When Vivek Oberoi publicly apologized to Salman Khan over their past feud over Aishwarya Rai Bachchan

Vivek Oberoi and Salman Khan

Vivek Oberoi’s conflict with Salman Khan is one of the most controversial chapters in Bollywood's history. The tension began after Salman’s breakup with Aishwarya Rai, followed by rumors that Aishwarya was dating Vivek. Salman reportedly became upset with the rumors and allegedly threatened Vivek.

The situation escalated when Vivek held a press conference, revealing that Salman had called him 41 times, accusing him of having physical relationships with several leading actresses and even threatening to kill him.

As a result, Vivek faced severe backlash from the industry, with colleagues distancing themselves and work opportunities drying up. It marked one of the most challenging phases in his life, which he continues to regret.

One particularly painful moment occurred at the 10th Rajiv Gandhi Awards at Jamshed Bhabha Theatre in Mumbai. After performing on the song Beedi Jalaile with Koena Mitra, Vivek stopped in the middle of the stage, bowed to Salman, and apologized by holding his ears. Despite his gesture, Salman remained unmoved, looking away with a smirk on his face.

Vijay Kalantri, the Chairman of the committee, described the incident, saying, “Vivek grabbed his ears and bowed and mouthed ‘bhai’. But Salman just shook his head.”

This public apology became an embarrassing moment for Vivek, especially since his father, the legendary actor Suresh Oberoi, was present.

The incident was later mocked at the Zee Cine Awards, where filmmakers Sajid Khan and Karan Johar mimicked Vivek’s gesture.

The feud between Salman and Aishwarya began after their breakup in 2002. Aishwarya, who ended the relationship due to Salman’s alcoholism and abusive behavior, revealed in an interview with The Times of India how Salman couldn’t accept their breakup. She stated, “Salman and I broke up last March, but he isn't able to come to terms with it. After we broke up, he would call me and talk rubbish. He also suspected me of having affairs with my co-stars. I was linked up with everyone, from Abhishek Bachchan to Shah Rukh Khan. There were times when Salman got physical with me, luckily without leaving any marks. And I would go to work as if nothing had happened.”

After their split, Aishwarya began dating Vivek, and their relationship was widely covered by the media. In an appearance on the first season of Koffee With Karan, Karan Johar asked Vivek about his relationship with Aishwarya, to which he confirmed, saying “yes.” Karan also asked about the infamous press conference against Salman, and Vivek explained the impact it had on his life. He said, "I didn’t have anything against Salman Khan. In fact, I liked the guy. I thought he was quite interesting when I met him before. But yeah, in terms of the way he behaved and within the framework of my personal life at that time, trying to protect the lady in my life. I did what I thought was right."