It seems Vivek Oberoi cannot keep away from controversy. Hours after the actor retweeted a meme about the exit polls, which also seemed to poke fun at former girlfriend Aishwarya Rai, the National Commission for Women (NCW) slapped the actor with a notice.
Terming the post ‘misogynistic, offensive’ and unethical, the NCW demanded an explanation from the actor.
The National Commission for Women (NCW) issues notice to actor #VivekOberoi for drawing a sly comparison between the poll result and a woman’s (Aishwarya Rai Bachchan)personal life through his tweet. pic.twitter.com/4XMCkONdxa
— The Leaflet (@TheLeaflet_in) May 20, 2019
Vijaya Rahatkar, who chairs the Maharashtra State Commission for Women, also took cognizance of the issue and sent the actor a notice to respond.
Slamming him for the tweet, Rahatkar said the state commission would demand an explanation from the actor for his social media post.
अभिनेता विवेक ओबेरॉय ने किया हुआ ट्वीट महिलाओंका अनादर करनेवाला है। इस ट्वीट का संज्ञान महाराष्ट्र राज्य महिला आयोग ने लिया है। आयोग उनको जल्द ही नोटीस भेजेगा।
: विजया रहाटकर,
अध्यक्षा, महाराष्ट्र राज्य महिला आयोग@CMOMaharashtra @MahaDGIPR @vivekoberoi @NCWIndia pic.twitter.com/i48j7Ij0bO— Maharashtra Women Commission (@mscw_bandra) May 20, 2019
Rekha Sharma, NCW chairperson: We would like him (Vivek Oberoi) to apologise on social media & personally also to the person concerned. If he doesn’t do, we will see what legal action can we take against him. We will be talking to Twitter to remove that tweet immediately. pic.twitter.com/h6st5jgbqQ
— ANI (@ANI) May 20, 2019
The controversy blew up when Oberoi shared a meme poking fun at the exit polls using Rai Bachchan’s past and current relationships.
Considering the fractious relationship Oberoi has shared with Rai Bachchan and her former beau Salman Khan, it surprised many that he even chose to share the tweet.
Needless to say, it did not go down well with many netizens. Even Oberoi’s colleague from the industry, Sonam K Ahuja, took to social media to slam the actor’s post as ‘classless’.
Director Madhur Bhandarkar also took to Twitter to condemn Oberoi’s tweet.
Dear @vivekoberoi, never expected such tweet from u. The trolls may go to any extent and make memes but u as a responsible celebrity should be careful of hurting anyone’s dignity. Would request u to apologize and delete the tweet. https://t.co/lfJgWiWphF
— Madhur Bhandarkar (@imbhandarkar) May 20, 2019
Unfortunately for Oberoi, the controversy comes in the same week as he prepares for the release of his film, PM Narendra Modi. The actor plays incumbent prime minister Narendra Modi in the film.
The film’s release had been stayed earlier by the Election Commission on account of the general election to the seventeenth Lok Sabha. The film has now been scheduled for release on 24 May, a day after the election results are due to be announced.