Vivek Oberoi getting a raw deal due to Saif Kareen

By Subhash K Jha

Is Vivek Oberoi getting a raw deal? The Kurbaan promos feature Saif Ali Khan and Kareena Kapoor all the way. Vivek Oberoi who plays the third main protagonist is hardly glimpsed in the entire promotional campaign, triggering off a widespread feeling that things are not so right between Vivek and the Kurbaan team.

However the explanation for Vivek's absence is far more bizarre than the nomal raw-deal rona-dona.

Apparently his role is so deeply affiliated to the plot's suspense that every moment shown in the promos featuring Oberoi would have the tendency to give away the story.

Laughs director Rensil d'Silva, "It's a very strange situation. Vivek is one of the central characters. But almost every scene of his is a dead giveway of the suspense. What do we do?"

Rensil has discussed the problem with Vivek. "And he is absolutely cool with being the band mutthi of the film. I've spoken to Vivek and explained the dilemma. He was cool with not being featured in the promos that much.

He said to do whatever is right for the film because when the film opens the truth about the extent of his role would be out. Vivek has worked very hard in the film. He had to acquire a true New Yorker's accent and not the kind Indians get at the John F Kennedy airport."

Vivek worked really hard on the accent. "We had a couple of New Yorkers on the sets to coach him. He's got the NY accent bang-on. It's not a borough-specific accent (NY has 5 boroughs each with its own speaking patter). It's a general New York twang.And Vivek is superb with it."

Rensil cuts down the belief that Vivek has a cameo in Kurbaan? "Not true at all. Vivek is in 80 percent of the film. He's central to the drama. Vivek worked very hard on the role. He was in my room in Philadelphia every night to discuss his diction, dialogues and looks. I seem his career at the cusp of something really exciting."