Oberoi, the surname, may be as Punjabi as it can get. But when Suresh Oberoi was asked by his parents to “go and see this girl” they’d chosen for him, he groaned.

“I couldn’t stand the idea of marrying one of those typical Punjabi girls,” he said, after his trip to Madras (as it was then called) where he’d gone to meet his parents’ choice. After years of growing up and living in Hyderabad, his tastes were more inclined towards the south of the Vindhyas. In fact, although it is Telugu that’s spoken in Hyderabad, Suresh likes to occasionally break into a welcome in Tamil too.

Anyway, he made this duty trip to Madras and returned smitten because “there was this nice warm girl who looked more South Indian than a Punjabi.” He said ‘yes’ immediately and married Yashodhara, known as Yashi to friends.

That was more than 30 years ago. Both Suresh and Yashi came from completely non-film backgrounds but they settled down well with each other and with the entertainment industry. The fact that both of them had come from affluent backgrounds but had to go through an initial struggle in Mumbai didn’t come in the way of their happiness. Suresh Oberoi, known as much for his baritone as his dignified acting skills, went on to build a career for himself and a dream bungalow in Juhu for Yashi. That’s where they raised Vivek and Meghna, their two children.

When Suresh Oberoi’s brother died in an accident, orphaning two little kids, they were quickly brought to the Juhu bungalow. Yashi happily brought up all four children as her own, with Vivek referring to his cousins as his brothers. The Suresh-Yashi marriage has been a happy one with both of them turning to spirituality and social work as they grew older. While Yashi, a Grand Master in reiki, regularly visits a hospital to bring relief to patients, Suresh likes his game of golf for which he drives all the way to Chembur. And they are respectful of the saints and babas who come into their home.

Life has come full circle today with son Vivek reacting exactly the same way as his dad had three decades ago. Of course, Vivek has been a more colourful bachelor than his dad ever was, sowing his wild oats quite liberally. In fact, the young man came into the film industry with a possessive girlfriend in tow. Gurpreet, a Sikh, would be by his side at the health club where Vivek, then a new actor who was generating interest as Ram Gopal Varma’s protégé in Company, religiously exercised. They were so inseparable that much to Suresh’s growing dismay she’d be on Vivek’s set too, keeping a watchful eye on him if he dared do a romantic scene. The kind of steamy kisses that he did in Prince this year would’ve been unimaginable in Gurpreet’s time.

When Vivek was shooting Ramu’s Road, co-starring Antara Mali, and there was a long shot to be filmed with the hero and the heroine, it was said Gurpreet watched them through a pair of binoculars! Ramu was certainly not amused.

All of us also attended Vivek’s engagement to Gurpreet which he gustily celebrated at celebrity haunt Rain (where Penne now stands in Juhu). His artist-sister Meghna was there but not his parents. Obviously, they weren’t ecstatic about it but they left him alone to make his mistakes and grow up.

Sure enough, Vivek soon broke up with Gurpreet and his famous liaison with Aishwarya Rai started. He has always worn his heart on his sleeve and it was no different this time too. Though Ash was her usual icy, discreet self, the full-of-beans Vivek couldn’t hide his relationship from the world. When he was shooting for Kaal in Corbett Park, Ash had sent him Diwali goodies which he’d enthusiastically shared with his colleagues.

After all these escapades, he didn’t seem the arranged marriage kind of Mumbai boy. But like his dad did more than 30 years ago, he too went early this year to meet the girl his parents had chosen. He went reluctantly but came back converted as he fell for Priyanka Alva like a tonne of bricks. Vivek is back to his exuberant self, thrilled about the perfect girl he’s going to wed this October.

Hopefully, he’ll repeat (family) history in more ways than one and be as happy as his parents have been.

One thing’s for sure. At Ram Gopal Varma’s media meet for Rakta Charitra, Vivek was so ecstatic that even the inane questions that the journalists came up with (for example, ‘Will your fiancée accompany you for the promotions of Rakta Charitra?’) couldn’t dampen his enthusiasm. It certainly looks like better, more stable times are here for Vivek Oberoi.

Bharathi S. Pradhan is editor,The Film Street Journal