Vivek Oberoi sweating it out with Daniel Craig's gym instructor for RGV's gangster drama, 'Rai'
Ria Lawrence (MID-DAY; August 22, 2016)

The scene in 2006 James Bond movie, 'Casino Royale', where Daniel Craig emerges from the sea flaunting washboard abs left us drooling. The man behind Daniel's envious physique in that film and 'Skyfall' (2012), Anthony Pecora is now training Vivek Oberoi for two projects — Ram Gopal Varma's 'Rai' based on former don Muthappa Rai, and upcoming web series, 'Khel'.

A source says, "Vivek started rigorous training with Anthony last week. The daily workout schedule includes weight training, FTX [fitness exchange] and cardio exercises."

The actor believes that scripts of the two projects have a mass appeal and so, he doesn't want to leave any stone unturned to make his look convincing to the core.

Vivek says, "Both roles are special to me, so I want to ensure that my fans see me in a different avatar. We are spending two hours in the gym everyday; I am enjoying it. The training is on a different level altogether, but Anthony does make the process easier. Now, I know why he is called one of the best in the business."

While he will beef up for Rai, he will be seen sporting a leaner look for Khel. Considering the risks involved in the weight loss-and-gain process, the actor says he is taking due precautions.

Anirban Das (MID-DAY; June 17, 2016)

Ram Gopal Varma’s next project, Rai, was supposed to roll earlier this month, but we hear the schedule has been pushed back to July-end. Vivek Oberoi, who will portray gangster Muthappa Rai in the thriller, apparently had to drop plans of starting shoot as the makers of his next release — sex comedy Great Grand Masti — decided to kick off their promotional campaign this week.

A source says, “Initially, Vivek thought he would work out his dates and take out time for RGV’s film in the midst of promotions. However, since the production team of Great Grand Masti has come up with a full fledged, month- long publicity plan, he had no choice but to push the shoot schedule to July-end.”

Vivek is said to have conveyed his decision to Varma and his team. “He informed the team of Rai that he cannot be in his character’s look while promoting the other film. Besides, he needs to keep himself completely free for the publicity campaign which include media interactions and city tours,” adds the source.

Rai will go on floors only after the adult comedy co- starring Riteish Deshmukh and Aftab Shivdasani hits theatres on July 22. “The makers have accepted his request to push back Rai’s shoot,” the source informs.

Vivek remained unavailable for comment. Although it has been widely reported that the film was slated to go on floors in the first week of June, RGV insists, “Rai was always supposed to start July-end.” Rai will be extensively shot in Mangalore, Bangalore, Mumbai, Dubai and London, and release in four languages — Hindi, Kannada, Telugu and Tamil.