A different joy in seeking happiness in your friends’ goals, says Tahira

Making friends during school and college is easier, but maintaining that friendship over the years can be tough. Yet, authordirector Tahira Kashyap Khurrana has stayed friends with her college mates for the last 19 years. She had founded a theatre group in college, which included her now husband (actor) Ayushmann Khurrana, music composer Rochak Kohli, director Gautam Sharma, and their other friends. Even after almost two decades of friendship, the bunch of pals continue to stay in touch and had in fact met right before the lockdown.

“There is a lot of maturity and acceptance today... All these friends are close to me and have seen me grow. What I love is that there is no pretence between us. They know me and I know them, and being completely yourself with someone is just wonderful. Even today, when we meet, we enjoy ek doosre ki beizzati karna (laughs),” she shares.

The 35-year-old, who recently finished writing her fourth book, feels their mutual passion for theatre, writing and acting kept the group of friends together. “We are fortunate to have found like-minded people at an early age. Some of them are writers, directors, actors, lyricists, art directors, music composers. Apart from theatre and arts, Buddhism has been a common link between all of us. Even the ones who don’t practise it, share a common goal to be compassionate and better versions of ourselves,” she says, adding, “We have awareness and know how we want to grow as people. I feel the level of gratitude and enjoyment changes when you seek happiness in the goals of others as well. This is what happened when I made a short film Pinni and so did Gautam, who made Chhaju Ke Dahi Bhalle. We were both delighted for each other.”