Actor Vivek Oberoi recently shared a remarkable encounter he experienced during his relief work after the devastating 2004 tsunami. In an interview on Dr. Jai Madaan’s YouTube channel, the actor opened up about a spiritual meeting with a mysterious old man that left a deep impact on him.
Vivek revealed that during a challenging phase in his life, both personally and professionally, his mother advised him to shift his focus to serving others. Taking her suggestion to heart, Vivek moved to South India, pitching a tent among the tsunami survivors and dedicating himself to relief efforts. “I even picked up a little Tamil,” he said, reflecting on his time there.
He recounted a life-changing visit to a well-known temple in the region, where he encountered an enigmatic old man. “I was very worried, mentally. I had issues… Somebody told me to visit the temple; I did. I met an old man with a white beard there. He was wearing only a dhoti. He called me over,” Vivek shared.
The actor was surprised when the man began speaking to him in fluent, polished English, despite his simple appearance. “He made me sit next to him, and he looked at my face. He said, ‘You’re very worried, you’re going through a period of misfortune, and that’s why you were sent here to this temple. You were going to face a big financial loss, but you’re blessed. The money you were about to lose, you spent on relief work here. This is your karma, and you will reap the benefits.’”
Following the conversation, the old man gave Vivek some instructions to carry out. But when Vivek returned to the spot, the man was nowhere to be found. “I asked everyone—the watchman and other people—where the old man went. They said, ‘Which old man? Nobody was here. It’s empty.’ I was stunned,” Vivek said, adding, “To me, he’s like God.”
Vivek’s spiritual experience came full circle, as he reflected on how his life has evolved since then. He shared that he now makes deals worth thousands of crores in the real estate business, attributing his success to the blessings and lessons from that fateful encounter.
In the same interview, Vivek recounted another transformative experience at a temple. After praying for an opportunity to serve, he was approached by a man who tipped him off about a child prostitution ring. Acting on the information, Vivek uncovered a group of young girls being held captive in a small room. “I felt a rage,” he said, describing how this incident spurred him to launch a foundation focused on helping vulnerable children and communities.