In the early 1970s, due to his interest in acting and a good voice, he gained entry into radio shows and stage plays, prompting him to attend the Film and Television Institute of India in Pune.

He gained recognition nationally for his supporting role as a Police Inspector Sharma in the 1980 film Phir Wahi Raat, starring Rajesh Khanna in the lead and directed by Danny Denzongpa, which was both critically acclaimed and commercially successful.

His best performance as character actor came in Awaaz, a 1984 film directed by Shakti Samanta and starring Rajesh Khanna in the lead, where he played Police Inspector Amit Gupta.

Since 1984, he regularly kept getting good character roles in films like Ek Nai Paheli, Kanoon Kya Karega, Sharabi, Aitbaar, Bepanaah and Jawab.

His performances in films like Palay Khan, Dacait, the Telugu film Marana Mrudangam, Tezaab, Do Qaidi, Parinda, Mujrim, Aaj Ka Arjun, Pyar Ka Devta, Tirangaa, Anari, Vijaypath, Masoom, Raja Hindustani, Soldier, Safari, Gadar Ek Prem Katha, Lajja, Pyar Tune Kya Kiya and 23 March 1931 Shaheed were appreciated by the audience.

He recited a few couplets in the song "Dil Mein Phir Aaj Teri" with Anuradha Paudwal for the film Yaadon Ka Mausam (1990).

Suresh Oberoi's father belonged to the Arya Samaj, a Hindu reformist organization, while his mother was a Nanakpanthi, and he considers himself to be religious, having written a spiritual book, Pilgrim of Life.

[9] Together with the motivational speaker BK Sister Shivani Verma, Oberoi is a goodwill ambassador of the World Psychiatric Association.