Samyuktha and Gouri: No matter how heavy life gets, we somehow find a way to make each other laugh

Time of India

a day ago

This International Friendship Day,
Samyuktha Viswanathan
and
Gouri G Kishan
tell us about what it's like to find a best friend in a contemporary. As they both carve their paths in the industry, the actresses share how they try to support and be there for each other.
Even though they are in a long-distance friendship and have busy schedules, it hasn't lessened their bond but instead made it even stronger. Excerpts:
How would you describe your bond with each other?
Samyuktha: I've always wanted a female best friend in the industry who I can fully trust, and she's been that for me. Our friendship feels like a gift. Even our moms and families immediately loved each other.
Gouri: Samyuktha is my chosen family.
What started as two actors crossing paths has grown into one of the most beautiful friendships in my life. We've held space for each other through uncertainty, growth, joy, and vulnerability.
How did your friendship begin?
Samyuktha: I've always been an admirer of Gouri. We met during the reading of Suzhal 2. There was an instant ease while talking to her. She reminded me of my cousin sister, whom I'm very close to. We went from strangers to best friends; there was no in-between.
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Gouri: When I first met Sam, I noticed that she has the ability to laugh at herself. There was no vibe of competition or jealousy. I immediately liked her, and she was like a ray of sunshine. She radiates a lot of positivity.
How important do you think it is to have long-lasting female friendships?
Samtuktha: It's so essential, and I could not live without it. There's no jealousy and animosity between Gouri and me. It's been healthy.
We've never competed with each other. She is the first person I call if I need help with auditions.
Gouri: There's a level of emotional safety net that only women can provide other women. There's a deep sense of feeling seen and understood. Most of my healing has happened around women, and I'm grateful for that. Samyuktha and I are happy for each other's wins, and we celebrate each other's victories.
How do you navigate your long-distance friendship?
Samyuktha: Having her based out of somewhere else, even though she travels a lot for work here, is difficult.
I hate it; I'm not going to lie. But as much as it's difficult, I think it's worth it. We don't need to talk and text each other every day. Whenever we meet, it's just so easy.
Gouri: The mistake that I've made in my friendships earlier is thinking, 'Oh, they must be busy. Let me not disturb them.' Now, I don't overthink. Even if they are unavailable, I leave voice notes because I like to keep my friends updated. Samyuktha and I are both constantly travelling, and even when we are in the same city, our schedules sometimes don't match.
But she's always a call away. I usually don't like video calls, but Samyukta is an exception because I'm so comfortable with her.
What are the perks of having a close friend in the same profession as you?
Samyuktha: It definitely feels good. As much as you try to explain it to someone outside the industry, it's not possible for them to fully understand the ups and downs, insecurities, what we celebrate, what's hard, etc. So, it makes life simpler to have someone who truly gets it.
Gouri: I have to make my friends from school and college understand what it's like to be in cinema. But someone in the same profession obviously knows how it feels. It's comforting to know that in a profession that can sometimes feel isolating, you've someone walking right beside you. It feels like having an anchor and a cheerleader rolled into one.
Do you talk about your career decisions with one another and ask for advice?
Samyuktha: Absolutely.
She has been in the industry longer, as she started young, and she is very mature for her age. When a project comes up, we may not be asking, 'Do you think I should do this?', but I talk to her about it. When I had an audition, she came straight from a hectic schedule and helped me with it and only then went home, which was very selfless of her.
Gouri: More than career decisions per se, I usually go to Sam when I'm feeling a little lost on how to handle certain things.
Sam always validates what I feel, and she does that genuinely.
How do you resolve arguments when you have differences of opinion?
Samyuktha: I don't think we've ever had a proper fight. We've had little arguments, but it has been casual. We immediately call each other out when something affects us and don't hold it in. It never goes to a point where it's turned into an argument. It's always a conversation.
Gouri: Our arguments don't last long.
Sam is someone who immediately says, 'Hey, that wasn't cool.' Neither of us keeps anything bottled up. We don't give space for misunderstandings to creep in. I've had friendships and relationships where the other person keeps it in their heart, and it develops into a grudge against me. But that doesn't happen with Sam. I don't think I can stay mad at her when I know that she doesn't ever mean bad for me.
What keeps your friendship strong?
Samyuktha: It's the fact that life has become easier having the other person around.
Gouri: We're very real with each other — there are no filters. We celebrate each other wholeheartedly, but we also call each other out when needed.
How do you ensure you have each other's backs?
Samyuktha: Unless I absolutely can't, I pick her call up any time she calls me and the same goes for her. Once, when she was at a shoot and it was a long day, she asked me to come, and it was nice to spend the day with her.
Gouri: No matter how heavy life gets, we somehow find a way to make each other laugh, and that keeps the bond light and unbreakable.
At the heart of it, I think it's the comfort of knowing we're safe with each other. In an industry that can often feel unpredictable, this kind of steady, genuine connection is so rare.
A quality you like most about your friend?
Samyuktha: She is authentic and always herself. There is never a moment when she's faking it.
Gouri: How sensitive she is to people's feelings. She is an empathetic and thoughtful friend.
A quality of your friend you wish you had?
Samyuktha: There are quite a lot of qualities.
She carries a carefree joy, and I think I would like to have that.
Gouri: I wish I had her generosity. The way she gives her time, love, and attention so freely to the people she cares about is genuine and rare.
Favourite activity to do together?
Samyuktha: I don't even know if this is an activity, but if I have to pick one, it would probably just be us sitting in the room and ranting.
Gouri: Our favourite activities to do together are simple — long, heart-to-heart
conversations, eating good food, and going on spontaneous drives.
We love watching films together and sharing music. It's less about the activity and more about how comforting it feels when we're together.
Favourite film/series on friendship…
Samyuktha: The Bold Type
Gouri: Little Women, Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara
One word to describe friendship...
Samyuktha: Lifeline
Gouri: Safe space
Favourite onscreen friend character...
Samyuktha: The character that my friend Rini played in Lover. She was an important friend for the main character to have.
Gouri: Hermione Granger from Harry Potter has been a favourite. In the Hindi film Queen, the protagonist meets a fierce character, Vijayalakshmi. It was cool to see how a new friend can change your perspective on life.
Favourite friendship song...
Samyuktha: Mustafa Mustafa
Gouri: Friends theme — I'll Be There for You. Also, Jaane Kyun from Dostana