Family feud? Vivek Oberoi's cousin Akshay says he did not have any support from the actor-businessman during his struggle days

Vivek Oberoi was one of the rising stars in the 2000s with hits such as ‘Saathiya’ and ‘Masti’ to his name. Years later, when his cousin Akshay decided to try his luck in Bollywood, he did not receive a leg up from his cousin. In a candid conversation with Cyrus Broacha in the podcast Cyrus Says, he revealed he was not so close to his more well-known cousin and his family.

Akshay revealed no one knew he was Vivek’s cousin. “No one was interested in me or my family before, so no one asked me that question,” he said. The actor then admitted that for various reasons there was not much communication between the two cousins and their families. He revealed he was not in a position to pick up the phone and chat with Vivek. “I hardly got in touch, and he never offered help. Just the way it was,” he stated.

When asked whether both families maintained regular contact, Akshay explained that there had not been much interaction over the years. However, he pointed out that things had started improving in recent times. According to him, the older generation on both sides had begun to age, and with that maturity came a greater sense of perspective. The long-standing disagreements and differences that once caused distance were now slowly being set aside. He acknowledged that clashes rooted in Punjabi pride and ego had played a role in creating that distance in the past.

“I think all the older generation is getting a bit older, and everyone’s realising that whatever happened in all these years, we can let it go. I am sure there were Punjabi ego clashes that had happened,” he said.

Even though he never received direct assistance or support from that branch of the family, Akshay reflected on the experience with gratitude. He felt that witnessing their achievements indirectly motivated him. Their success gave him the belief that similar accomplishments could also be within his reach. In his mind, their journey became a source of inspiration, even though no tangible help was ever extended to him.

On the work front, Akshay’s most recent appearance was in the Hrithik Roshan-led film Fighter. His upcoming project is Sunny Sanskari Ki Tulsi Kumari, where he will be sharing the screen with Janhvi Kapoor and Varun Dhawan.