Vivek Oberoi: 'Each Business I Invest In Reflects Some Future We Believe In'

What is common to Solitario, iScholar, ReadyAssist, Agribid, BNW Developments, and Rutland Square Spirits Ltd? If that question foxed you, well, all these companies are part of Vivek Anand Oberoi’s business interests. The actor is now also a businessman and is seeking to make a difference with these ventures.

When he was just 10 years old, it was Vivek Oberoi’s father who encouraged him to start his entrepreneurial journey. “During my summer vacations, my father would hand me a box of his inventory, like perfumes and electronics, and say, ‘See if you can sell them’,” he shares. At that moment, even though he had no idea of what that meant, he cycled through neighbourhoods, learning how people think, how to negotiate, and what makes them say yes. “That early exposure stayed with me. Today, as an entrepreneur, I still follow those same fundamentals that I learnt at 10, whether I gravitate toward ventures that solve real problems and create lasting value. My role is often that of an enabler, someone who connects capital with purpose, structure with story, and passion with execution. The journey began small, but the intent was always about scale, purpose, and impact,” he explains.

Choosing to invest in diverse portfolios has been by design, but the lens, he admits, is consistent. “I invest in clarity of purpose, product, and positioning. I often see myself drawn to ideas that exist to solve some friction, the kind that signals untapped opportunities. I look for ideas that are ahead of their time but grounded in real demand. The sectors may vary, from agri-tech to AlcoBev to lab-grown diamonds, but the people I back all share a drive to create lasting impact. Each business I invest in reflects some future we believe in. And that belief, more than anything else, is what guides me,” he says.

For instance, BNW Developments has achieved AED 22 billion in assets under development in the UAE’s ultra-luxury real estate market. As Co-Founder and Managing Director, he takes the lead to bring bold ideas to life. In the consumer goods sector, he has co-founded Solitario, a lab-grown diamond brand that operates across seven countries, upholding the vision of sustainable and ethical luxury.

Oberoi is also ensuring that he can make a difference and create an impact. With iScholar, he is enabling last-mile digital learning for rural students, and with ReadyAssist, he has helped empower over 11000 mechanics in India’s rapidly evolving mobility ecosystem.

“I have also played a strategic role in platforms like Agribid, which touches the lives of over 10 million farmers and is reimagining India’s agri-value chain, enhancing the income and empowering more than 2.5 million women farmers,” he says.  And then there are the capital bets—early investments in Nisus Finance and Identical Brains, both of which went public with IPOs oversubscribed 192x and 544x, respectively. “But for me, the real win is seeing something new take shape—and knowing my humble contributions helped bring life to it,” he says.

The mantra for him is that luxury today can’t just look good—it has to do good. “We are living in an era where opulence must come with a conscience. My commitment to sustainable luxury is deeply rooted in this truth. Whether it’s investing in Solitario’s lab-grown diamonds, building sustainability-focused real estate with BNW, or choosing ethical supply chains, my decisions are always guided by one simple principle: reduce harm, increase value. To me, real success isn’t just about ROI. It’s about return on impact,” he says.

Gen Z and Millennials, who now drive most of the luxury market, are eco-loyalists, with over 60% of them preferring brands that are planet positive. “At its heart, this is more than a spirit’s company; it’s a bridge between India’s heritage and Scotland’s world-class distilling tradition. Rutland’s flagship Chai Spiced Gin and the world's first tea-infused spiced Dark RUM aren’t just products; they are stories in a bottle. Handcrafted in Edinburgh using oolong white tea sourced from Dibrugarh—the tea capital of Assam—they pay homage to India’s tea legacy, which makes up over 55% of national tea production and 80% of India’s tea exports. That’s a powerful symbol to bring to the global luxury spirits scene,” he informs.

While Oberoi has several interests, he is clear that his role across these ventures isn’t confined, as he lends operating insight to optimise a business plan and help shape brand vision with strategic guidance. “But across the board, I bring active capital, clear roadblocks and stand in when it matters. These aren’t passive bets. They’re purpose-led platforms I deeply believe can transform how India farms, learns, moves, and builds for the world,” he admits.

With so much on, he says he always has time for movies. “Honestly, when something is your passion, you don’t ‘make time’ for it; things just flow naturally. Films have always been my creative playground. Being on set and diving into characters and improvising scenes — it’s an absolute blast! I genuinely have a great time shooting. Right now, I’m super excited about Masti 4. Working with Riteish and Aftab over the last three parts has been fantastic. We've practically grown up together through the 20 years of this franchise. The camaraderie and creative chemistry we've developed remain unchanged, making every reunion feel like picking up exactly where we left off. And Masti 4 is a laugh riot that brings back all the beloved madness and quirkiness of the franchise, and I can't wait to start shooting and for the audiences to experience it,” he says.

Looking ahead, he wants to deepen his focus on the current sectors he is working in and enter new territories and brands that make India global without losing their soul. “More than anything, though, I want to keep learning. The world is evolving fast, and I want to stay curious, stay uncomfortable, and stay in the room where things are being built. At every stage, purpose has been my filter. I’ve learnt that profit is for a quarter and purpose is for life. It’s what defines your decisions when no one’s watching. It’s what makes you show up, even when it’s hard. As I continue this journey, I'm also looking forward to exploring avenues where I can contribute meaningfully back to society, because true success is also about how much you give back,” he signs off.