“Indians living abroad send 136 billion dollars back home every year and help build the nation.”, Vivek Oberoi said in a recent Pinkvilla podcast that has since gone viral. The actorpreneur called Non-Resident Indians one of India’s most powerful engines of growth, crediting them for strengthening both the economy and India’s global image.
In the conversation, Dr. Oberoi described NRIs as “ambassadors of India” who create opportunities, open markets, and drive investments.He emphasized that behind the massive annual remittances are real people and families, and that their contribution is often overlooked. In fact, their global impact exceeds even the combined remittances of Chinese and Mexicans worldwide.
Going a step further, Dr. Oberoi explained the macroeconomic impact of this inflow. “India buys oil and other essentials through dollars, and those dollars are available because they lie in our reserves. Today, India holds 600–700 billion dollars in reserves, and nearly half of that comes from NRI remittances,” he said.
He also drew attention to the social work championed by the Indian diaspora worldwide. According to him, the financial and humanitarian support extended by NRIs is not restricted to families but reaches sectors like healthcare, education and disaster relief. Citing his own experience, Dr. Oberoi revealed that since 2013, he has helped raise almost 40 million dollars from donors in the US and UK for causes in India.
Though Dr. Oberoi now resides in the UAE, he maintains an active presence in India’s social and public life. Over the years, he has remained associated with initiatives like CPAA, continuing a long-standing commitment to philanthropy. Alongside his humanitarian efforts, he has steadily expanded his entrepreneurial portfolio while keeping his entertainment career thriving.
On the professional acting front, he is gearing up for an ambitious slate of films, including the Ranbir Kapoor-starrer Ramayan and Sandeep Vanga Reddy-directorial Spirit alongside the pan- India star Prabas slated for 2026, and Rishab Shetty’s The Pride of India: Chhatrapati Shivaji expected in 2027.
