Anupam Kher on Friendship Day: 'Friends are man's real wealth'
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
Veteran actor Anupam Kher marked Friendship Day on 2 August 2025 with an emotional video message, reflecting on the irreplaceable value of genuine bonds and calling true friends a person's greatest asset — far beyond any bank balance.
What Kher Said
In the video shared on the occasion, the 71-year-old actor drew a vivid analogy to describe authentic friendship. 'Today is Friendship Day. I always say man's real wealth is not bank balance... They are friends. Friendship is like the pause button of a tape recorder. Meet after months, meet after years... Just press the button and the thing starts where it left off,' he said.
Kher went on to describe the quiet, unconditional quality of deep friendships: 'No calculations, no complaints, no formality. Friends don't just make you laugh... They make you stronger. Give you comfort. It gives realization that if anything ever happens in life, there are some people you can call without thinking. Perhaps this feeling is called friendship.'
On Calm, Courage and Security
The Special 26 actor added that true friends go beyond bringing happiness — they also bring mental calm and quiet courage. 'Friends do not only make life happy, they keep the mind calm too. They give courage, trust, and feel a strange security,' he said, expressing gratitude to every friend in his life.
He also noted that a true friend need not be someone present every single day, but rather someone who comes to mind instinctively during difficult moments — and that real friendships remain unchanged regardless of how much time passes.
The Occasion
Friendship Day is observed across India on the first Sunday of August each year. In 2025, the day fell on Sunday, 2 August. The occasion is traditionally marked by friends exchanging friendship bands, greeting cards, gifts, and personal messages.
Kher's message resonated widely, reflecting a sentiment that many across generations share — that enduring friendships are defined not by frequency of contact but by depth of connection. With his characteristic warmth, the veteran actor closed by wishing everyone who has even a single true friend in their life.