Friendship — that one human connection that transcends bloodlines, borders and even bandwidth. As the world changes rapidly around us, the nature of friendship is evolving too, influenced by the times we grow up in. Whether it’s old-school handwritten letters or modern-day memes, the essence of true friendship remains unchanged: understanding, support, and a shared rhythm of the soul.

This Friendship Day, we explore how friendship looks, feels and functions across generations — Baby Boomers, Gen X, Millennials, and Gen Z — through these unique stories that highlight what makes these bonds truly timeless.

A friendship that began in the 1970s in Amritsar has stood the test of time. Eminent theatre personality Neelam Mansingh Chowdhry, filmmaker Deepa Mehta and former Canadian senator Ratna Omidvar have remained lifelong friends. “We grew up in the same neighbourhood and met almost every day. If I wasn’t at home, I was at Deepa’s or Ratna’s,” shares Neelam Mansingh Chowdhry.

They shared secrets and diaries, joys and sorrows, and over the decades have stayed connected through phone calls and visits. “Deepa and I talk almost every day. We speak about our daily lives, creative work, families — everything we feel,” she says.

When Neelam moved to Chandigarh, Pooja Sood —who runs arts NGO Khoj — joined her close circle of friends. What has kept these bonds strong over such a long period is mutual love and care.

“There’s a complete lack of competitiveness in our friendship. We care deeply for each other, through both good times and bad,” says Neelam. Even though life has taken them in different directions, the Amritsar trio makes it a point to take a vacation together once every three years. “We’ve been to Sri Lanka, Mexico, and Turkey,” Neelam shares. “My friends are precious to me. I revere them and never take them for granted,” she adds.

For Ruby Singh and Simran Kaur, who met back in school, friendship has never been about constant contact — but rather, an unshakeable sense of connection. Over the years, their relationship has spanned continents and life stages: from schoolmates to college pals, through careers, marriage and motherhood.

Even after Simran moved to Australia, their bond remained steadfast. “We’re like the same person,” entrepreneur and model Ruby shares with a smile. “Our choices are often identical, even when we’re shopping in opposite ends of the world. We respond to life’s curveballs in the same way — and strangely enough, life also seems to deal us similar cards.”

Despite months sometimes passing without a call, the bond never weakens. “Whenever we reconnect, it feels like no time has passed,” says Ruby. When Simran visits India, the two are instantly transported back to their teenage selves, indulging in nostalgic meals at Hot Millions or Toshib — their favourite Chinese joints from back in the day.

“There’s no formality, no expectations. It’s a low-maintenance, long-distance friendship powered by tech — and a whole lot of heart.”

For choreographer Jas K Shan, friendship is her anchor in both the real and virtual worlds. Living a life that’s as public as it is passionate, Jas’ friendships are sprawling, heartfelt and deeply embedded in her everyday rhythm. Her university crew — Shivani, Neha, Swati and Harry, lovingly known as Four Shots — remains her emotional spine. “There’s no syapa these four can’t fix,” she laughs. And the circle expands beautifully. There’s Miklos, her Hungarian confidant and go-to for deep philosophical conversations.

Pooja, now based in Ahmedabad, is her “no-judgment” sounding board for uncensored chats. Dars Didar is her tech-savvy, adventure-loving partner-in-crime, Natalie from Switzerland her favourite travel companion and Vikas, whom she calls divine intervention buddy.

“I live my life in full view — and that’s by choice. I don’t really draw lines between personal and professional. If I vibe with someone, we’re friends — no labels, no limits. I love that my friendships are both grounding and liberating.”

Friendship in the Gen Z era is often defined by memes, texts, and reels — constant digital connection that never quite switches off. But for Kabir Nanda and Jasnamdeep Singh Chahal, both second-year students at SD College, friendship goes beyond screens and scrolls.

Best friends since their first year, the duo maintains a round-the-clock connection through messages and social media. “We’re always in touch — whether it’s funny reels, memes or just checking in,” says Kabir, who is also gearing up for the release of his upcoming film ‘Ghich Pich. “But what makes our friendship special is that we also make it a point to meet in person.”

Whether college is in session or not, their daily ritual of an evening geri is non-negotiable. “We talk about anything and everything. There’s complete transparency between us.”

From family issues to personal struggles, the two friends believe in the power of sharing. “Even if we don’t find a solution right away, just talking about it helps. It lifts the weight, calms the mind, and reminds us we’re not alone,” Kabir adds.

In a world where digital conversations can often feel fleeting, Kabir and Satnam’s friendship is a refreshing reminder of the value of consistency, presence and genuine emotional connection.