Hrishikesh Pandey: “Not into big groups—I value real connections

Hrishikesh Pandey, best known for his role in the iconic show C.I.D., says that for him, friendship holds deep significance. He prefers simplicity over showiness in all his relationships.

“I believe in friendship. Of course, it's the most important thing in life. But I'm not one of those who celebrate a special day or remind people that today is Friendship Day. For me, every day is about friendship. For my friends, I always feel I can do anything. One can go out of their way to do things for friends, and that's what friendship is all about. No matter how many years we’re not in touch, whenever we meet, we pick up exactly where we left off. That kind of connection is special,” he says.

While he doesn’t have a large circle of friends, he values the few genuine friendships he has. “Of course, I do have a couple of people, but mostly one or two friends from outside the industry. I don't have a big group of friends, but individual friends from different places. I do have a couple of friends who are very close to me, and we can count on each other anytime. I think you need people like that around; it’s always important,” he says.

Of course, I do have a couple of people, but mostly one or two friends from outside the industry

- Hrishikesh Pandey

For Hrishikesh, true friends are the ones who can be honest with you. “I also believe friends should be the ones who can guide you and even show you the mirror. This is very, very important. People often take it offensively if you tell them the truth or correct them, but I feel true friends have to be like that. They can tell you the facts to your face, whether you like it or not, and correct you when you're wrong. Not just friends who are there for your good times or just to have fun, but the ones who stand by you always,” he says.

Talking about childhood friendships, the actor shares that his army background made it difficult to keep in touch. “I lost touch with my school friends because I was in an army school. Every two years, we used to move from one place to another, so we couldn't stay in touch. I don’t even remember where we moved from or to. And back then, we didn’t have mobile phones. Those came much later in life, so we eventually lost contact. I’ve reconnected with one or two people in between, all of a sudden, and it felt good. So we stayed in touch with a few, but mostly I lost contact because of the frequent relocations,” he says.

Despite that, he believes true friendships are natural and don’t require much effort. “It's not difficult to make friends because, according to me, you don't make friends—it just happens naturally. It's about the vibe and connection you get. Real connections don't happen very often, but I do have a few friends I truly value,” he says.

As for his idea of a perfect time with friends, Hrishikesh prefers something low-key. “With friends now, it's not like it used to be. I watch a lot of movies, go for picnics and parties, but I enjoy meeting friends for coffee, going for some outdoor activity, or simply sitting at home and chilling.”

When asked if it’s difficult to form genuine friendships in the entertainment industry, he responds honestly. “When it comes to the industry, I feel it's the same as any other field. People are people—it depends on the kind of connection you form. But yes, in our industry, because it's show business, people can be manipulative or diplomatic. Sometimes, friendships happen only to get work done. I stay away from that because I can't be diplomatic, and I can't be manipulative. No matter how hard I try, I just can't do that. So I'm straight and simple—like it, like it; don't like it, don't like it. That's how I am.”