There’s something about Viveik Oberoi that’s putting-off and likable at the same time. At a recent press meet of ‘Omkara’, ‘Saathiya’ hero was dressed in all white with a shirt that was almost unbuttoned-till-the-belly.

The shrug of shoulders and straightening of hair was a precursor to an obsessive I-Me-Am trip that followed. “When Vishal Bhai came with the script of Omkara and told me that he wants to play Othello’s Cassio, my first reaction was no,” Said Viveik. But why the thought of refusal? “Cassio is a one dimensional character.” Hmmm…Whatever that means.

Then why did he do the film and also happen to enjoy its filming? “When I read the script, I loved it. The character of Keshu is the most flamboyant character of Omkara. He is the only character that breaks into English now and then in a Western UP milieu, is flirtatious to the core and is a ‘Bahubali’ who lords over people breaking into a fist fight now and then.” While Viveik was busy talking to the journos, Bipasha sauntered in his alley.

The ‘courteous’ Oberoi willingly obliged the shutterbugs by posing with his arms on the lady’s gym-toned waist. “Call Me,” he said to Basu babe with his fingers on his ear-n-mouth respectively. To which Bipasha just turned around and mingled with her coterie of female-journalists-turned-admirers.

Well, it’s hard to accept but both the Lady (Ash, But Naturally) as well as Luck (Both his earlier flicks ‘Home Delivery’ and ‘Pyaare Mohan’ proved losers at the Box Office) have been eluding Viveik Oberoi.

There was a time when he was the cynosure-of-envy as he walked hand in glove with Ms Rai around the world. Now, the vibes are cold and that confident smile is just-about holding on. Never mind…Next question! It seems Saif taught you how to play guitar on the ‘Omkara’ sets. “I was taught how to play guitar by a very good guitar player Sarosh. Since Saif knows how to play the guitar himself he gave me a few tips. We bond really well,” he said.

It was time to go. He left with a trademark swagger while a powerful whiff of perfume permeated the Air Conditioned surroundings. When I look at the promos of ‘Omkara’ I like the energy displayed by Oberoi boy.

He has also been likable in ‘Company’, ‘Saathiya’, ‘Yuva’, ‘Kaal’ and I even liked his comic act in ‘Pyaare Mohan’. Here’s hoping he would concentrate on being as earnest while conducting himself in public life as he is while donning grease paints on the big screen.