Actor Vivek Oberoi has become the center of an intense online debate after sharing his thoughts on the transient nature of celebrity and the potential for even the biggest stars, like Shah Rukh Khan, to be forgotten by future generations. Oberoi’s remarks were made during a broader discussion about fame, legacy, and the ways public memory shifts over time.
Oberoi ventured that by the year 2050, the name Shah Rukh Khan might elicit confusion, posing the question: “Who is Shah Rukh Khan?” He likened this to how younger audiences today might not know legendary figures like Raj Kapoor, whom he referred to as the “God of cinema,” particularly if their interests lie with contemporary stars such as Ranbir Kapoor. Oberoi’s underlying message was that “History relegates you into nothingness.”
Following Oberoi’s comments, a viral Reddit post ignited a fresh wave of discussion and disagreement. Supporters of Oberoi argued that his statement was a generalized observation about the passage of time and was unfairly sensationalized on social media. They felt his broader point about public memory fading was valid, even if the specific example was provocative.
Critics, however, found Oberoi’s prediction to be short-sighted, pointing to cultural icons like Raj Kapoor, Dilip Kumar, and Amitabh Bachchan whose legacies have demonstrably endured for decades. They argued that while generational awareness naturally shifts, some figures achieve a level of historical permanence. While the date 2050 might be a point of contention, the underlying idea that sustained recognition is not guaranteed for anyone, regardless of current fame, was a sentiment many could relate to.