They may be a decade apart in age, but Danny Denzongpa (76) and Jackie Shroff (67) have been best friends for years. Danny lives in Sikkim now and travels to Mumbai only occasionally, but neither distance nor work commitments can keep these dosts apart. This Friendship Day, the veteran actors share their little-known buddy stories with us. Excerpts:

Danny Denzongpa: I met Jackie when he was working on his launch film, Hero. We met at a hotel, where I saw him wearing cowboy boots, with his feet up on the table. He was looking very shabby, because that’s how the character was. We shook hands and I hugged him, wishing him the best and I liked his confidence. Though he was a newcomer, he was very likable, and we clicked. After Hero became a big hit, I went to meet him at Teen Batti chawl in Mumbai, where he stayed. I was already a star then and a crowd had gathered around me. Jackie stepped out shirtless with just a towel around his waist, asking people to step away. He was like a dada those days. I was surprised to see that he lived in a one-room chawl, though his movie had become a hit, and he could have moved out. I met his mother as well and we became close friends. Later, I also met his then girlfriend, now wife Ayesha, and she became my rakhi sister.

Jackie Shroff: The first time I saw Danny saab on-screen was in Mere Apne and I identified with him – the kurta-pyjama, long hair and bag on his back. (Not the bomb in the bag, but the rest of the look!) When I became an actor later, we got the opportunity to work together in films like Andar Baahar and we really bonded. We were shooting on an oil rig near the Gateway of India and for a week, we would travel together by boat. Post shoot, Danny saab would often drop by and have a cup of tea with my family. He calls me “sangeet ka dushman”, because he likes to sing while I just hum my lines. Both of us share a common interest – cooking.

Danny: We shot for Yudh in Kathmandu and travelled to Pokhara, where we shot for 15-20 days. I would take off for a nearby lake after the shoot, and park myself in a boat in the middle of the lake. When Jackie found out about it, he started joining me. We would go off to beautiful locations, watch the sunset and sing songs, and that’s how our friendship progressed - Danny Denzongpa

Danny: When they got married, Jackie invited just five-six close friends, including Subhash Ghai, Rajinikanth, Anupam Kher and me. A year later, Tiger was born, and Jackie called me up at 4 am to give me the news! I took glasses and champagne bottles in my icebox and went to the hospital. Then, Jackie, some of his friends and I went to a dhaba for an idli-vada breakfast, and we popped the champagne there. When my kids were born, the four children – Tiger-Krishna and Rinzing-Pema – would spend time together at his home or mine.

Jackie: Rinzing is more like my son; for me, there is no difference between him and Tiger and it’s the same for Danny saab. Both of us see Pema and Krishna as sisters; they are in the same age group and buddies as well.

Danny: I ran away from Mumbai’s polluted air and water and now I live in Sikkim. While spending time with me, Jackie started taking an interest in nature and started planting organic fruits and rice. He did not even know how to grow a flower, but now he gives me lectures on gardening (laughs).

Jackie: He is the one who made me learn all about respecting nature, and that every plant and tree is different. That’s how I started propagating the message about being environmentally conscious.

Danny: Jackie visited me last October and stayed for a week. When it gets cold in Sikkim I come and stay at Jackie’s farmhouse near Mumbai.

Jackie: We go down to Mahabaleshwar or Matheran together and every memory is special, or I go to Sikkim sometimes. We have a lot to talk about, be it jhaad-paan (plants), waterfalls and other facets of nature. I’m waiting for him to finish his work and come meet me soon.

Danny: The best thing about our relationship is that we have no expectations from each other – it’s pure. We sit together for hours without talking; it is the kind of relationship I had with my mother. I used to lie down in her lap as she said her prayers and our communication would go on though we weren’t talking. Jackie, too, isn’t very talkative and that is why the relationship is special.

Jackie: We are more than brothers and ours is a friendship that will never change. He is a pure soul. It's difficult to find a person like Danny saab – so dignified and with no malice towards anyone. He has a sense of decorum and grace, wherever he is. He is very smart and refined, and I’m surprised he is my friend. I'm not polished at all like him, but we are the best of buddies.