India, Aug. 3 -- Long before the spotlight found them, Kalki Koechlin and Gulshan Devaiah crossed paths in the most organic way, which was through their love for theatre. Their bond began not on film sets, but in green rooms and after-show hangouts, when neither of them was famous. Kalki first noticed Gulshan's "striking stage presence", while he was drawn to "her ease and goofy authenticity" in social settings. What started as effortless camaraderie, free of pretense or pressure, has quietly "evolved into a deep, enduring friendship" - the kind where you're not just close, you're family.

Recalling their first encounter, Kalki says, "The first time I saw Gulshan was actually in a play, Butter and Mashed Bananas. It was written and direct...