Some time ago, four wise men said, “I get by with a little help from my friends”. I am sure that all of us will nod in agreement — for a friend can make a difference — the difference between weathering the storm or going down with the ship.
Friendship in today’s world extends to an ex, or even a crush. Take Katrina Kaif, for example. Despite the rumour mills going berserk about their ‘relationship’, they remain buddies — in fact, Katrina calls Salman a ‘4 am friend’. For Priyanka Chopra, SRK is an ‘emotional anchor’.
Being a celebrity makes it tougher to suss out who is a friend and who is not. For Shriya Saran, trust is an important factor. “Some of my closest friends are those who’re not from this industry and they know me inside out. I know I can fall back on them — anytime, always. When some of my personal pictures and misinformation were circulated, it was my friend who contacted the police and got the issue sorted out. These situations make you realise what some people are really worth.”
They not only don the role of a love guru, at times these friends turn career counsellors. Celebs feel that it helps to discuss life with someone who is alien to your own profession — someone neutral who can give you a fresh perspective. Sameera Reddy says, “There are a lot of ups and downs in this industry and you never know when things will change dramatically. Considering you’re always in the limelight, it’s important that you have someone who is not judgmental about the kind of person you are. Neeta Lulla is one of my pillars of strength and so is Pooja Kumar, my childhood friend.”
Successes and failures do not alter the bond, say some who have experienced bouts of bad luck in their lives and yet held on to their buddies — on the contrary, they help tide over the bad phase.
Actress turned model Reemma Sen, who was recently in the news for her supposed wedding plans, says, “It doesn’t matter what profession the person belongs to. What’s important is the chemistry levels; and the ‘trust’. Ego clashes and differences among friends are not uncommon — it’s the compatibility and wavelength that keep you going.”