Sukhada Khandkekar, who is seen as Saraswati in Prateek Sharma and Parth Shah’s Pukaar: Dil Se Dil Tak, which is produced under their banner, LSD Studios, says her friends are sometimes more important than her relatives. For her, it’s crucial that her vibe matches with the other person and she takes those relationships very seriously.
Speaking on the occasion of International Friendship Day, which will be observed on August 4, she said, “Friendships are extremely important to me, and I’d even say that sometimes they can be more important than my relatives. I believe that friends are those relatives, whom we choose & eventually nurture into relationships. This connection is something that goes beyond age, gender, caste, religion, or profession.”
“I take relationships very seriously. I clearly distinguish between a co-actor, colleague, friend, best friend, and family. When I say someone is my friend or family, I truly mean it. I take my time to understand the role each person plays in my life and build the relationship accordingly,” she added.
On-screen and off-screen, friendships are very important to her. Professionally, when she decides to join a project, she gets deeply involved with her character. “I research and watch world cinema, television, and regional works in various languages—Hindi, English, Marathi, Bengali, Gujarati, Tamil, Telugu—anything that helps me resonate with my character. However, amidst all this, building relationships on a television set can be challenging due to the busy schedule. And the process of building my character inch by inch, is beautifully consuming. But, when I do get a chance to connect with people on set, organically, I consider myself very fortunate,” she said.
“I make sure to nourish these friendships and protect them, even after the project ends. I see these relationships as precious. As they’ve come to me organically. When it comes to on-set friendships, I view them through a professional lens. It’s important to have great coordination with co-actors, DOPs, the team, and the director. Being blessed with fantastic people around you on-set is invaluable. And team Pukar is one such best example.” she added.
Sukhada mentioned that she is a very private person, and mostly, her best friends are her childhood friends. People she has known for 25 years, 32 years, friends from school and beyond. “As life progressed, our friendships evolved, but we’ve managed to stay close. Since moving to Mumbai, I’ve been here for eleven years, and during that time too, I’ve had some very important friendships. I proudly say that my husband is my best friend. I don’t know when my husband, Abhijeet, realized he was in love with me, but he directly asked me to marry him. I agreed to this relationship because he was already my best friend,” she said.
“Falling in love with him happened quickly, and I’m still in love with him. They it changes as time passes, well not with us (touchwood) Even eleven years into our marriage, he still remains my best friend who unconditionally loves me for who i am, infact has brought the best out of me. He’s the first person I want to share everything with, even if I’ve made mistakes.l, I feel he should glbe the first one to know about it. He’s my favorite travel partner, and I’m always excited to spend time with him. When I get a day off, I come home excited to relax with him and watch something together. So, if you ask me who my best friend is, it’s my husband, Abhijeet. Of course, I have many other friends whom I value deeply, and they have all shaped who I am,” she added.
Asked about the qualities she values most in her best friend, she stressed that they are deeply rooted in her experiences over the years. “Friends who have been with me since childhood have shown me how lives can evolve, and their presence remains invaluable. They stand out because even though our lives have changed and we all have experienced ups n downs in our respective carriers. Our bonds remained unaffected, pure. I believe honesty is very important. True friends are those who always keep you grounded, even when you stray off track. They are the ones who bring out the best in you,” she said.
“Secondly, being non-judgmental is important. Friends qre the ones who accept and support, regardless of the circumstances. They listen to you without judgment and offer unconditional support. I have a set of friends who embody these qualities and ibsee them as my pillars,” she added.
Speaking of her friendship on the set of the show, she said she would rather describe it as chemistry as the shooting has begun just a few months ago “I have a great time shooting with Sumukhi Pendse (Rajeshwari), even though our characters are very different. We enjoy working together. Abhishek Nigam (Sagar) and I also share a great chemistry. Whether we’re doing emotional scenes or light-hearted ones, the atmosphere becomes enjoyable,” she said.
“With Sayli Salunke (Vedika), and Anushka Merchande (Koel), the chemistry is diffferent. More layered. Even though our characters might not always align, we align beautifully with each other. We have fun together. We laugh and joke around, especially before scenes or during readings. But when we start working, it’s a different dynamic,” she added.
How has friendship contributed to your personal and professional growth? “I believe I am who I am because of my friends. They help me recognize my strengths and areas where I can improve. They give me honest feedbacks, bring out the best in me and I trust their advice without question. I know I need to make those changes and grow. I owe a lot to my friends. They are like a blessing, and I value them immensely.”
