Long before Bollywood controversies became headline material, the 2003 press conference involving Vivek Oberoi and Salman Khan marked one of the industry’s most talked-about flashpoints. More than two decades later, producer Shailendra Singh has revisited that moment, offering details about Salman’s state of mind after the press meet and how he chose to deal with the situation.
Speaking in a recent interview with Siddharth Kannan, as reported by SCREEN, Shailendra reflected on his long friendship with Salman, the fallout of the press conference, and the events that followed.
Shailendra Singh traced his association with Salman Khan back to the actor’s early days in Mumbai’s Cuffe Parade, long before superstardom reshaped his life. He recalled that Salman would often visit the building to meet his then-girlfriend, Shaaheen Jaffery, at a time when his life was far removed from public attention. According to the producer, Salman has always been deeply emotional and warm-hearted, though he also felt that the actor’s surroundings and the people around him played a role in shaping his later years.
Shailendra shared that his immediate response was to advise Salman against reacting publicly. He told him that it was more important to act with patience rather than respond impulsively. Instead of escalating the matter, he urged Salman to stay calm and let time take its course.
The press conference took place when Vivek was reportedly dating Aishwarya Rai after her breakup with Salman. The episode sent shockwaves through the industry and became a turning point that many believe affected Vivek’s professional trajectory.
Speaking in a recent interview with Siddharth Kannan, as reported by SCREEN, Shailendra reflected on his long friendship with Salman, the fallout of the press conference, and the events that followed.
Shailendra Singh traced his association with Salman Khan back to the actor’s early days in Mumbai’s Cuffe Parade, long before superstardom reshaped his life. He recalled that Salman would often visit the building to meet his then-girlfriend, Shaaheen Jaffery, at a time when his life was far removed from public attention. According to the producer, Salman has always been deeply emotional and warm-hearted, though he also felt that the actor’s surroundings and the people around him played a role in shaping his later years.
The aftermath of the 2003 press conference
The discussion turned to Vivek Oberoi’s controversial press conference in 2003, where the actor alleged that Salman Khan had threatened him. Shailendra said he went to meet Salman soon after the incident and found him extremely angry. He described the actor as being visibly furious at the time, adding that while Salman earlier tended to express emotions openly, success and experience had since taught him greater restraint.Shailendra shared that his immediate response was to advise Salman against reacting publicly. He told him that it was more important to act with patience rather than respond impulsively. Instead of escalating the matter, he urged Salman to stay calm and let time take its course.
‘Fight the battle silently’
According to Shailendra, he specifically encouraged Salman to avoid any public confrontation and to deal with the situation quietly. He suggested that Salman wait, observe, and handle things without drawing further attention. Looking back, the producer felt that Salman followed this advice. He claimed that, over time, Vivek Oberoi’s career drifted away from mainstream Bollywood, adding that while he could not state this with certainty, the outcome appeared that way to him.The press conference took place when Vivek was reportedly dating Aishwarya Rai after her breakup with Salman. The episode sent shockwaves through the industry and became a turning point that many believe affected Vivek’s professional trajectory.
