In a candid episode of Karan Johar’s Koffee With Karan Season 7, Alia Bhatt and Deepika Padukone opened up about how their friendship began. The two actresses bonded at a Coldplay concert in Berlin during the IIFA awards.

Alia shared, “It all started at IIFA two years ago when we went to see a Coldplay concert. We ended up spending a lot of unplanned time together that night, and that’s when we really connected.”

Bhatt explained that she saw a different side of Padukone during the concert: “That night was a revelation for me. I always thought of Deepika as poised and proper, but she’s actually quite wild! As we entered the stadium, she suddenly exclaimed, ‘I want French fries!’ I thought to myself, ‘Wait, that body is eating French fries? Okay, I’m coming with you!’”

Karan responded by noting that many people have a specific perception of Deepika, saying, “She’s not just that girl. Deepika has this way of living her life in slots. When she’s working, she’s all in, but when she’s not, she knows how to let loose. If she has nothing planned for the next few days, she’ll really enjoy herself.”

The actresses also shared a humorous moment from the concert when they both needed to use the restroom and decided to sneak into the men’s bathroom. “At one point, during a not-so-popular song, we were both desperate to pee. The women’s line was long, so we looked at each other and decided to push through a group of five men to get into the men’s loo together,” Deepika recounted, calling Alia her “partner-in-crime.”

Deepika expressed her comfort with Alia, saying, “I’ve told her this before. I really like her sister too. They’re both well brought up, young, fun, and ambitious. It’s a beautiful combination.”

Alia added, “While I’ve spent more time with Katrina at the gym, Deepika and I have always had a warm connection. There’s a comfort level. If I spend an evening with DP, I feel comfortable sharing my life with her. We might not talk every day, but whenever we meet, it feels natural.”

Research shows that workplace friendships, like those between Deepika and Alia, can greatly enhance productivity and morale. In a conversation with Indian Express, counseling psychologist Srishti Vatsa noted that maintaining strong friendships in adulthood can be challenging. However, fostering closer ties with colleagues—like Deepika and Alia—can improve our work experience, especially since we spend so much time together.

A study from the University of Pennsylvania and University of Minnesota highlighted the significant impact of close friendships on workplace productivity, showing that such relationships foster commitment, enhance communication, and lead to mutual encouragement, resulting in greater job satisfaction and overall success.

Findings from the International Social Survey Program (ISSP) further affirm this, indicating that interpersonal relationships are a key driver of job satisfaction. Among twelve factors affecting workplace quality, relationships were found to have the strongest positive influence on employee satisfaction.