By Subhash K Jha
Mumbai, Dec 29 (IANS) After remaining single for four years, Vivek Oberoi is ready to settle down. The actor, who has also turned into a poet, says he wouldn't mind marrying a girl of his parents' choice.
"My mom specially is very worried. Like any mother she wants me to settle down. I don't mind an arranged marriage. The girl my parents choose could be the girl of my dreams," Vivek, who recently featured in "Kurbaan" as a journalist, told IANS.
"I know there's someone out there for me. I just have to find her. I don't know how it would happen. But with all her imperfections and mine, she'd be perfect for me. At the moment I'm very much single. I've been single for four years.
"I'm a normal guy. I do go out on dates. I enjoy women's company. But nothing serious. I'm extremely conservative about women. I cannot have a time pass attitude towards me," said the 33-year-old.
Vivek laughs off the rumours linking him with Niroo Singh, one of the actresses from his forthcoming release "Prince - It's Showtime".
"That's all rubbish. I've been linked up with 50 girls in the last four years I've been single. At least 10 of them I've never met. No wonder my mother is searching for a girl for me. She wants me to settle down," he said.
When Vivek bowed in Bollywood with "Company" (2002), he was dating model Gurpreet Gill, but after some time they parted ways. Later he was linked to his "Kyun! Ho Gaya Na" (2004) co-star Aishwarya Rai and that too didn't work.
"I've had two serious relationships where I gave one hundred percent of myself physically, spiritually and emotionally to my partner. The next one will hopefully be for keeps. I hope to find a girl who appreciates my dedication and loyalty," he said.
"It's unfair to judge them now that they've moved on. But I loved them wholeheartedly. I continue to respect them although they've moved on. They're both married. I wish them happiness."
Meanwhile Vivek is busy penning down his romantic disenchantment in poems.
"Yes, I do write poetry. It's very therapeutic. I'm influenced by Pablo Neruda and Gulzar saab. It's all very personal. Good friends tell me I should get them published."
The actor says he is surrounded by positive energy now.
"First 'Shootout At Lokhandwala' and now 'Kurbaan' happened to me. Now I want people to speak about my work. And if I want personal happiness, I just have to spend time with needy children.
"(Recently) I went for khichdi party with the most adorable bunch of kids who even sang a parody of my song 'Ae ganpat' for me. It gives me absolute joy to be with such kids. You know a kalaakar (an artiste) is someone who is meant to give kal ko aakaar (a shape to our tomorrows)," said Vivek.