THROUGH THICK AND THIN

A two-decade-old bond between Shibani Akhtar and Rhea Chakraborty, has been shaped by loyalty, resilience, and sisterhood through life's brightest and darkest turns

- By SNEHA MENON DESAI Photography By ONKAR PATIL

Shibani Akhtar and Rhea Chakraborty have been friends for nearly two decades now. From their first meeting when Chakraborty was 'an annoying' 16-year-old that Akhtar's sister Anusha Dandekar once brought home, to becoming each other's strongest pillars through some incredibly challenging phases, including the harrowing media trial that Chakraborty went through.

The actors talk about the role this relationship has played in shaping them as people, and the importance of female perspective in friendships.

Edited excerpts from the conversation:

The Meet-Cute

THR India: When was the beginning of your friendship? Do you remember that first meeting?

Shibani Akhtar: I think I first met Rhea when she was 16 — and I would have been ... 30? — at my sister's house. Anusha, my sister, had brought her home because Rhea was a contestant on some MTV Miss Teen Diva. She met my youngest sister, Apeksha and I, and we both found her highly annoying.

Rhea Chakraborty: They hated me, and Anusha was the one who used to shield me from them. They were like the cruel stepsisters from Cinderella.

SA: Once you reach your mid to late twenties and meet a sixteen-year-old in her very chirpy, energetic phase, the age difference feels [more pronounced]. Over time, of course, that gap begins to feel smaller — but back then, hanging out with a teenager was too much.