Chaitali Kohli, who has been seen in projects like Crew, Khauff, Single Papa and Criminal Justice: Behind Closed Doors, believes that while she enjoys meeting people and making connections, only a handful truly know the real her. Ahead of Friendship Day, she opens up about the meaning of genuine friendships, dealing with competition, and why her husband remains her closest friend.
Calling herself a complete extrovert, Chaitali says she easily connects with people but prefers keeping her inner world private. “I’m a social butterfly. I love people, I love the energy around me, and I enjoy being surrounded by others. I usually know everything about the people in my life—their stories, families and even their pets. But very few people truly know me. I like it that way. I have only three close friends that I spend time with, and I’m happy with that. Being an Aquarian, I’m a little complex for people to understand,” she says.
When asked about someone who stood by her during the toughest phase of her life, Chaitali doesn’t name a friend from the industry. Instead, she credits her family. “The people who stood by me during my hardest times were my two daughters and my sister-in-law. They have been my biggest support system. They have seen me go through everything and never left my side.”
Sharing her thoughts on friendships in the entertainment industry, Chaitali admits that trust is not easy to find. “I’ve seen people become insecure, and loyalty is rare. Some people have walked over me for their own motives. I’ve even seen people trying to get my lines cut by speaking to makers behind my back. I always found it strange because I would eventually find out. But I don’t believe competition is a part of my journey. Even if I had the chance to play those games, I chose not to. That’s just not who I am.”
Success, she says, also changed many relationships. “People whom I thought were my friends couldn’t accept my success. It surprised me, but life moved on. Their behaviour didn’t stop me from chasing my dreams.”
Talking about the one person who has stayed by her through every phase, Chaitali says it is her husband, Kawal. “He is my longest-standing friend. We’ve grown together, supported each other and built our lives together. What we have today is because we always stood by each other.”
Despite hectic shooting schedules, she believes friendships survive only when people make an effort. “Don’t make traffic, distance or lack of time an excuse. Just go and meet the people who matter. We always find an extra hour to sleep, so use that one hour for your loved ones instead. That’s my philosophy.”
