Vivek Oberoi: from a “victim” to “hero”

Summary

The speaker recounts a career in Bollywood abruptly halted by powerful industry figures, leading to feelings of victimhood. Inspired by their mother's advice, they transitioned from victim to hero by founding Project Davi, aimed at rescuing and empowering young girls. The initiative has impacted 15,000 girls, providing education and healthcare, and challenging gender inequality in rural areas. The speaker emphasizes the importance of girls believing in themselves and the transformative power of education, as they aspire to uplift their communities.

Takeaways

• 🏆 The speaker experienced a sudden end to their successful career in Bollywood due to powerful individuals' decisions.
• 💔 They felt intense frustration, pain, and anger, and initially saw themselves as a victim in the situation.
• 👩 The speaker's mother, a significant role model, advised them to find a way to be a hero to someone else as a means to transition from feeling like a victim.
• 🔍 The speaker discovered an opportunity to help and started Project D, initially aimed at rescuing and rehabilitating girls.
• 🌟 Project D has since empowered 15,000 girls, providing them with free food, education, healthcare, and the ability to think differently.
• 🚫 The rescued girls were at risk of being sold and exploited, with the oldest being 13 and the youngest only five years old.
• 🌱 The project has had a significant impact in villages, where traditionally boys are favored over girls, by enabling girls to go to college and pursue higher education.
• 💪 The girls who have been helped aspire to return to their villages and help more girls like themselves, demonstrating a strong sense of community and giving back.
• 👧 The speaker notes a desire among the girls to not just emulate their mothers but to break the cycle of poverty and lack of opportunity.
• 💰 The speaker believes in the importance of equitable wealth distribution between men and women as a means to achieve equitable power distribution.
• 🤰 The speaker acknowledges the unique strength of women, such as giving birth, but emphasizes the need for power to be correlated with wealth, not just physical strength.

Q & A

What significant change occurred in the speaker's career?

The speaker's career underwent a sudden downturn when influential individuals in Bollywood decided to exclude them from the industry, causing their success and awards to evaporate.

How did the speaker initially feel about this career setback?

The speaker felt a great deal of frustration, pain, and anger, and perceived themselves as a victim, unsure of how to cope with the situation.

Who did the speaker look up to for guidance during this difficult time?

The speaker's mother, who they consider their hero, provided guidance and advice during this challenging period.

What advice did the speaker's mother give them?

The speaker's mother advised them to shift their focus to being a hero for someone else, which would help them transition from feeling like a victim to feeling like a winner.

What project did the speaker initiate as a result of this advice?

The speaker initiated Project Durga, which began with rescuing a group of girls and then focused on their rehabilitation and empowerment.

What does Project Durga aim to provide for the rescued girls?

Project Durga aims to provide free food, education, healthcare, and the ability to think differently for the rescued girls, once their primary needs are taken care of.

What was the situation of the girls immediately after being rescued?

The girls, ranging from ages five to thirteen, were at risk of being sold and dispersed across the country in inhumane conditions within 24 hours of being found.

What is the full form of 'Durga' in Project Durga?

The full form of 'Durga' in Project Durga stands for 'Development and Empowerment of Brindavan Girls Initiative'.

How many girls has Project Durga impacted over the years?

Project Durga has impacted over 15,000 girls, providing them with empowerment and opportunities for a better life.

What is the speaker's view on the role of women in society?

The speaker believes that women are the conscience keepers of society and that it is important for girls to start believing in themselves.

What is the speaker's perspective on the distribution of wealth and power between men and women?

The speaker believes in an equitable distribution of wealth between men and women, asserting that power is directly correlated to wealth, not physical strength.