3 Aug 2008. Once the grease-paint wears off, the friendships look almost as fragile as finger-nails. Of course, there are few who stand by their dosts through good times and bad. Hits and misses. Love and heartbreak. But is showbiz really one big filmi family, or is it just another industry, where ‘friendships’ are a world apart. BT talks to the dosts of Dostana on the sets in Miami about friendships that go beyond the lights, camera and action... 

Karan Johar: Most of my colleagues are my friends. Abhishek and I have known each other as long back as I can remember. Bobby and I were sons in the same industry. I knew John ever since his modelling days; likewise I’ve known Priyanka for a long while. So we had some fun times filming Dostana. I am blessed to have friends like Adi (Chopra) who told me I was mad to go ahead and do what I was planning; that I should do what I knew best — films — and I cancelled my course abroad and stayed put. 

Shah Rukh agreed to do my first film, and we’ve been close friends for years. As much as the industry likes to believe that they are a ‘fraternity’, the fact is that it is just an industry. And friendships are rare. My father (Yash Johar) told me, ‘If in your long journey of life, you even make and retain one true, genuine friend, you are truly blessed.’” 

Bobby Deol: Though people say that filmi dostis are rare, the fact is that they do happen. Abhishek, John and I were in Miami for a long schedule and we really bonded. Abhishek and I belong to the same fraternity, and with our dads knowing each other so well, we got along amazingly. I’ve met John only over last few years, through Bipasha. Both are terrific guys and great to hang out with. 

John Abraham: The difference between dosti and dostana is very subtle. A friendship can be a normal acquaintance, that’s a dosti. But a dostana is a friendship over a long period of time. The chemistry Abhi and  I share is better than any man-woman bonding, too. I think true male friendship means fierce bonding. With Bobby, our friendship is in another league. I believe you should never make friendships for the sake of convenience. Do it because it makes you happy. Like the Joker says in the Dark Knight, “You complete me — likewise friends complete me!”

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