In an exclusive shoot for HT City, actors Abhishek Banerjee and Divyenndu revisit their friendship that began in college and continues to thrive through life’s many milestones
Nishad Neelambaran (HINDUSTAN TIMES; August 2, 2026)

In the words of legendary American essayist Ralph Waldo Emerson, “It is one of the blessings of old friends that you can afford to be stupid with them.” Few friendships embody that sentiment better than the two-decade-long bond between actors Abhishek Banerjee and Divyenndu. It all began when two cinema enthusiasts crossed paths at Kirori Mal College in New Delhi in the early 2000s, with Divyenndu a year senior to Banerjee. From sharing the stage in college plays to becoming best friends while shooting for the web series Mirzapur, their story is a reminder of the enduring value of old friendships. Excerpts:

What does friendship mean to the both of you?
Abhishek: I am a single child, so for me, friendship is like a sibling relationship. It’s a comfort zone, because I don’t have a brother or sister, and my parents belong to a different generation.
Divyenndu: For me, friendship holds a really high place in life. It truly tells who you are as a person. Everything else, such as your parents or your siblings, you get by default. Mere dost mere bohot kareeb hai. Abhishek and I have a very strong telepathy. If there is any karmic connection, we definitely have it.

Has fame ever meddled with your friendship?
A: Not at all. When Pyaar Ka Punchnama (2011) came, that was a big moment for all of us because it felt like one of ours had reached that stage. Seeing him grow, I realized that there was a huge chance for us as well because he had no godfather.
D: We are very secure people. We know what our paths are, and we will not cross each other; we will always walk together. When I started, there was hardly anything that was organized. But when I saw Abhishek taking some very sensible decisions and casting actors on their merit, I felt really proud.

What is the one thing that has never changed in your friendship?
A: Him ragging me. That is like a lifelong thing. (Laughs)
D: Honestly, jokes apart, our belief system in terms of work. We really respect what we do, and we don’t take that for granted. We can have fun on set, but if we are working on a scene, we go back to the basics.
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Destiny surely played a role in how we met. We started doing shows together, ended up staying in the same building; even our in-laws are in the same colony in Delhi. Too many coincidences in life!
- Abhishek Banerjee
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Your friendship really tells who you are. Mere dost mere bohot kareeb hai because I have invested in that kind of relationship with them.
- Divyenndu