Vaishali Arora: Friendship is important especially for actors living away from their families

When it comes to showbiz, many actors come from families living in different places in India. The actress, who plays the role of Riya in Rahul Tewary and Rolling Tales Production’s Udne ki Aasha, says that it is very important to have a good friends circle in Mumbai in order to survive here.

“Friendship is incredibly important in life, especially for actors living away from their families in a city like Bombay. Apart from family, friends are the ones you spend the most time with, becoming your chosen family. It's essential to choose your friends wisely, as they provide support, entertainment, love, care, and sympathy. In both personal and professional life, especially on a film or TV set, having good friendships helps create a positive working environment. If you bond well with your co-actors off-screen, it becomes easier to portray emotions and deliver impactful scenes on-screen,” she says.

She says that she has never had one best friend. “I don't believe in the concept of having a "best friend." To me, this term carries a heavy burden, and I don’t want to place that pressure on any one person. However, I do have five or six people who are very close to me, and I consider them my closest friends. The most important quality I value in my friendships is being low-maintenance. I find it difficult to maintain relationships that require daily interaction or conventional displays of affection. My closest friends understand this, and even if we don’t speak for days, our bond remains the same. They are honest, non-judgmental, and don’t hold things against me, which is why our friendship lasts for years.”

Talking about friends on the sets of her show, she says, “On the set of Udne Ki Aasha, I genuinely get along well with everyone. I’ve made great friends like Tanvi Shewale, who plays Roshni, and Puru, who plays Tejas. Akash, played by Devashish, is also a great friend, and we share many fun scenes together, bringing youthful energy on screen. Having this real friendship off-screen makes our on-screen chemistry even better. Although my storyline is slightly different from the main plot, I look forward to making more friends as I interact with the rest of the cast.”

Ask her how does she maintain friendships in the busy and competitive world of television, and she says, “Interestingly, there are many similarities between my on-screen character and myself. One of my early dialogues in the show reflects my real-life perspective: "I don’t have too many friends because I’ve always been career-oriented." This resonates with me because I’ve always been focused on work, which has led to having a small, selective circle of friends. These friends are those with whom I can maintain a relationship without judgments or complaints.”

She adds, “Friendships influence everything in life—how you speak, how you sit, where you like to eat, and how you approach your profession. In a city like Bombay, my friends keep me grounded, happy, and supported. They are always there, whether I need to share a celebration or seek comfort during tough times. Professionally, I have a group of friends who are also aspiring actors. We help each other with auditions, photo shoots, and always root for one another. My friends, both personally and professionally, are everything to me.”