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| Celebrating Viveik's birthday |
Viveik Anand Oberoi, Shreyas Talpade and a college drama team — we're not giving out the paraphernalia of a rolling Bolly flick but tracing the association that the two actors share since their teenage days.
Oberoi and Talpade have known each other over 10 years, having brainstormed together as members of Mithibhai College's dramatics team.
Says Talpade, "We would have arguments and debates over our performances. The tradition still continues as we evaluate each other's performance and wait for the other's inputs to come."
United we stand
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| After winning the trophy at National Youth Festival |
During the early '90s, the two were part of a boy gang who called themselves, United Our Souls.
"Everybody would mistake it for the expletive a*******s," says Talpade.
While both pursued commerce (Oberoi was junior by a year), the friendship brewed during the extensive workshops, play rehearsals and college festivals.
Recollecting their first casual chat, Talpade says, "From day one, he was sweet and energetic. He was known for on-the-spot improvisations. He was, is and always will remain a creative guy. He can make an excellent director some day. Apart from that, he was a charming dude and girls would fall for him left, right and centre."
Pataoing papa
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| At the Boy's Hostel in Kurukshetra, National Youth Fest |
Whenever it came to seeking permission for staying overnight in college, it was Talpade who would request Suresh Oberoi in his squeaky voice.
Festivals would see them celebrating together in the college campus and homes alike. Adds Talpade, "Popular hairstylist Alim was also in the drama team, and we would land up at his place during Id, to feast on biryani."
Pranksters join hands
The duo was infamous for their pranks. Apart from harassing lone souls in the college canteen, they once collected change from their batch mates on the pretext of making a call, amounting to Rs 500.
"We ultimately had a lavish dinner in a posh urban restaurant," grins Talpade. However, he complains about his pal's chatty side, "He's a compulsive talker, and would chat endlessly, even then. The good thing is, he never kept any hard feelings to himself, and preferred speaking up."
Purane din
Viveik rues losing touch, and misses the good old days, "With our lives getting busy, we don't get to meet each other that often. Unfortunately, I've not yet managed to see Iqbal. He's a good guy and I remember celebrating our birthday, gorging on Chinese food at this kiosk that belonged to our professor."
Talking about winning competitions together, Talpade recollects, "In '95, we participated in the National Youth Festival, held in Kurukshetra. We were put up in this boy's hostel were we played a lot of pranks and had loads of fun, apart from winning the contest." The duo hopes to get roped in for the same film that will have them reliving their old days.
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