Oberoi apologises for controversial meme, deletes tweet

Bollywood actor Vivek Oberoi landed in a controversy on Monday over a meme he tweeted on exit polls while mixing it with his personal life thus dragging in actors Salman Khan and Aishwarya Rai Bachchan.

Oberoi sent out a tweet with three photos - one referring to "opinion poll" having a photo of Salman Khan and Aishwarya Rai and then "exit poll" with a photo of himself and the actress and "result" having a photo of Aishwarya Rai, her husband Abhishek Bachchan and their daughter Aaradhya.

Captioning the collage image initially posted by someone else, the actor wrote - "Haha! creative! No politics here....just life."

With the tweet, Vivek Oberoi seemed to trace his widely-reported personal life - initially Aishwarya was linked to Salman, then he had a friendship with the beauty queen, who later married Abhishek Bachchan, the son of superstar Amitabh Bachchan.

The 42-year-old Vivek Oberoi, whose latest film PM Narendra Modi this Friday, had married Priyanka Alva and has two kids.

The actor received nation-wide condemnation on social media platforms over the vile tweet. The National Commission for Women and Maharashtra State Commission for Women have come down heavily on the actor is contemplating action against the actor.

"The tweet is absolutely disgusting, distasteful and disregarding a woman. We would be serving a notice," NCW chairperson Rekha Sharma tweeted.

"We will be sending a notice...he is a responsible actor, such a tweet is insensitive, it disrespects women," MSCW chairperson Dr Vijaya Rahatkar said.

Meanwhile, NCP leader Chitra Wagh demanded action against Oberoi.

Delhi Commission for Women chairperson Swati Maliwal tweeted:

" It is hardly hilarious. It's crass, disgusting and reveals the sick mentality of its 'creator'@vivekoberoi. Evident that the man lacks everything - political as well as life skills".

Bollywood, celebrities lash out

Several Bollywood personalities and celebrities took to social media to condemn the tweet of Oberoi, who has acted in films like Satya, Shootout at Lokhandwala, Saathiya and Omkara.

"Disgusting and classless," Sonam Kapoor Ahuja tweeted.

Badminton player Jwala Gutta said: "Extremely absurd of you to tweet this!! Disappointing."

Director and filmmaker Madhur Bhandarkar tweeted: "Dear, Vivek Oberoi, never expected such a tweet from you. The trolls may go to any extent and make memes but you as a responsible celebrity should be careful of hurting anyone's dignity. Would request u to apologise and delete the tweet."

Filmmaker Ashoke Pandit said that it is absolutely distasteful on so many levels. "How can you call this cheap remark 'creative' in any way? Didn't expect this from an otherwise cultured person like you."

Now, Oberoi has apologised for the gaffe and deleted the tweet.

"Sometimes what appears to be funny and harmless at first glance to one, may not be so to others. I have spent the last 10 years empowering more than 2000 underprivileged girls, I cant even think of being disrespectful to any woman ever. Even if one woman is offended by my reply to the meme, it calls for remedial action. Apologies tweet deleted," Vivek Anand Oberoi said.