Here’s why Vivek Oberoi declined Shivanna’s offer when he was eighteen

Vivek Oberoi recently revealed to us that he accepted the role in Rustum only because of Shivarajkumar. He admitted that when he was offered the role by the stunt master-turned-director Ravi Varma, he at first declined the offer. But, when the director brought up the fact that Shivanna would be playing the hero, the actor apparently couldn't say a No.

“Shivanna had offered me a role even before I became an actor. At 18, I had visited Bengaluru to meet my aunt. She was a good family friend of Shivanna’s. When he saw me, he said that I was handsome and expressed his wish to launch me in Kananda. He had wanted me to play his brother’s role in a film. I felt honoured, but had to decline the offer since I was going to the USA to pursue my masters in films. So, this time when I was offered a role alongside him, I jumped at it,” says Vivek, who, in fact, reminded Shivanna of the episode. 

Rustum, made under the banner of Jayanna Combines, also features Shraddha Srinath, Rachita Ram and Mayuri.