In an industry where relationships are fickle and often forgotten once pack-up is announced, there are a few friendships that have endured and stood the test of time.
A few bonds in Tollywood go beyond films. Be it the combination of Pawan Kalyan and Trivikram, Jr NTR and Koratala Siva or S.V. Krishna Reddy and K. Achi Reddy, all of them have forged friendships outside of work.
Pawan Kalyan has always bonded with director Trivikram Srinivas, appearing at many events with him and meeting regularly too. Another actor-director duo who do the same is Jr NTR and Koratala Siva, whose friendship extends to families too. Producer and director Achi Reddy and Krishna Reddy are also always spotted together for many years now.
“I know Siva from a long time as he worked in my film Brundavanam as a writer. He is very talented and more importantly, we both think on the same lines,” says Jr NTR about Koratala Siva, adding that he can share anything with the director. Interestingly, although the two have been friends for long, it was only recently that Koratala directed Jr NTR for Janatha Garage.
Both of them share such a good rapport that last year, their families even went on a holiday together. Reflecting on their friendship, Siva says, “I worked with him as a writer and he introduced me at the audio function of the film.” He adds that after Janatha Garage, the friendship has become very strong and continues till date.
The friendship between Trivikram and Pawan Kalyan also goes beyond work and films. “He worked as an assistant writer for Gokulamlo Seetha (1997), but at that time I didn’t know him. Later, I saw a few scenes of Chirunavvutho (2000) and liked the dialogues. I knew of Trivikram, but we didn’t meet each other,” says Pawan Kalyan. They later met on a few occasions and the director shares that he narrated the story of Athadu first to Pawan Kalyan. Working together in Jalsa in 2008 sealed their friendship.
“After working together in Jalsa, we became pretty close and I think this friendship will continue for a long time,” says Pawan Kalyan. After Attarintiki Daaredi, both Trivikram and Pawan Kalyan became a well-known combination in films too. When Pawan Kalyan was supposed to attend an event as chief guest but couldn’t make it, Trivikram said, “If we want to see God or our mother, we have to go to them. They don’t come to us,” in reference to PK.
Rumour has it that Trivikram was behind Pawan Kalyan’s maiden political speech in Hyderabad and that it became a huge hit thanks to the director. Now, with both of them working together on a film, the expectations are sky high.
Friends for over 45 years, producer K. Achi Reddy and director S.V. Krishna Reddy, have partnered together in many films. “We both were in the same school from class VIII,” reveals Achi Reddy, adding that their friendship began even before films.
“Whatever we did, it was together. Before joining the industry, we tried our hand at different businesses and finally I told him to do films,” says Achi Reddy. It helped that Krishna Reddy was interested in films from the beginning. “So, he took up direction and I went into production. We started with Kobbari Bondam and went on till the recent Yama Leela 2,” he shares. “Our friendship has led to our families sharing a similar bond too,” he reveals.
Like they say, there seems nothing on the earth that can be more prized than friendship!
