Vivek Oberoi shares tips for young men coping with heartbreak

Saathiya actor, who went through several high-profile relationships before marrying Priyanka Alva Oberoi in 2010, recently opened up about his personal experiences and the lessons he learned. In a candid interaction with media, he discussed how heartbreak changed him and advised against adopting extreme measures like vowing to stay single forever.

“I have deeply experienced heartbreak, and it is a weird journey,” Vivek Oberoi said while sharing advice on dealing with breakups. During the conversation, Vivek shared tips for young men on coping with heartbreak, drawing from his own journey.

He explained the common ways boys typically handle heartbreak, which often include feeling betrayed, meeting friends to drink, and venting frustrations by criticizing their ex, with friends joining in to make them feel better. He added that some boys take it further by swearing off serious relationships entirely, deciding to stay single forever. “Others go in the opposite direction—they decide to date every girl who comes their way and vow never to commit seriously because it hurts too much,” Vivek explained.

However, he pointed out that these approaches are misguided as they cause one to lose touch with their authentic self. “This girl left you, and you let her take your sense of self along with her. That’s wrong. She rejected you, but you haven’t rejected yourself. You need to work on yourself. Of course, it’s important to express your feelings but this typical journey of lashing out, dating a bunch of girls…which I think Bollywood is also partially responsible for.”

Vivek emphasized the importance of reflecting on a relationship to identify one’s mistakes and avoiding them in future relationships. At the same time, he advised caution in cases of abuse or betrayal. “If it wasn’t your fault and you were simply innocent but ended up being used or abused, it’s essential to protect yourself. Don’t give so much of yourself to someone until you’re sure the person is worthy of it,” he said. 

Sharing his personal experience, Vivek admitted to losing himself after facing heartbreak. “We often focus on the emotional reaction rather than the process of healing. My emotional reaction lasted for 4-5 years. It was difficult until I found Priyanka. I was stuck in a negative mindset, convinced I would stay single for the rest of my life. I forgot who I truly was—a guy who was devotedly in love. I changed myself and was punishing myself,” he revealed.

Vivek was earlier in a relationship with Aishwarya Rai. Their romance began shortly after Aishwarya ended her relationship with Salman Khan. However, their relationship didn’t last, and they parted ways in 2003.