Vivek Anand Oberoi started his career as an actor with Ram Gopal Varma’s gangster film, Company, 19 years ago.

The film, which proved to be a turning point in his career, saw him playing a henchman to a notorious mobster. As he looks back to his debut project, Oberoi reveals, “When I did Company, everybody said that it was a big mistake. They pointed out that I had darkened my skin by eight shades, was wearing non-designer clothing, not lip-syncing songs and not dancing in the whole film.”

But he is quick to state that the film shaped his life and was one of the most fruitful experiences of his professional journey. Nostalgia struck, he says, “Company gave me so much such as the mentorship of RGV. He is an amazing director to work with. The faith and confidence that he instilled in me was incredible. He made me feel like a star on day one.”

So, how does he plan on carrying the legacy of the film ahead? “I’ve been getting messages on social media from fans who are asking me to make a series on Chandu’s life. Maybe that will become a reality someday. Company led me to make many unconventional decisions in my life,” he says.

In light of the resurgence in Coronavirus cases, Oberoi says that he worries about migrant labourers and theatre owners, and calls it a “repeat nightmare”.

He says, “There’s a mass migration again. It puts the labourers through a lot of economic hardship. My heart also goes out to daily wage earners and our brothers who run theatre chains. It has been a very tough ride for everyone. But we’ve to either adapt or die,” he concludes.