Shivangi Verma: I consider myself a low-maintenance friend

This Friendship’s Day, actress Shivangi Verma says that when it comes to her, she loves to adjust and enjoy with her friends. She adds that her friends are as precious to her as her family. 

“Friendship means a lot to me, like family does. Just as some people in a family are very special, friendships are equally significant for me. I consider myself a low-maintenance friend and have always said that I am quite anti-social with very few friends. The ones who are very special to me are different. While everyone wants to be friends with me, I don't easily become friends with everyone. The friends I do make are not just friends to me; they are like family. That's how I view friendship as family,” she says. 

Talking about her best friend, she says, “My best friend is Puru Chibber, who I met on a show called Reporter on Sony TV, and it was one of the most memorable moments of my life. The experience was so unforgettable that we still laugh about it with new people we meet. The incident happened because Puru and I are both from Delhi, where it's common to use a lot of slang in conversations. Unfortunately, Puru spoke to me in this way unintentionally, and it upset me so much that I went back to my van and even considered filing a complaint. I even told my Delhi friends that we should get together and come to Bombay to teach him a lesson! Despite all that, we eventually became very close friends. Today, out of all the shows and experiences I've had, Puru is like family to me and extremely special. Our friendship started with a clash, but it grew into a strong bond.” 

Doling out tips for maintaining good friendship, she says, “When it comes to successful friendships or any relationship, loyalty is extremely important. You shouldn’t lie, and your friend shouldn’t lie either. If there’s dishonesty, then that friendship doesn’t mean much to me. Fake friendships that are just for personal gain aren’t true friendships. After joining this industry, I’ve met people who call themselves friends but act differently behind your back. I don’t understand why people behave this way. I believe that a genuine friendship involves being loyal and honest. If you value these qualities, your friendships will last longer and be more fulfilling and the tip is I think Flexibility Sometimes you need to listen to your friend, and other times they need to listen to you. Flexibility helps strengthen the bond and respect. It's important for a lasting and meaningful friendship.”