7 Friendship lessons from 'Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara' - It was more than a road trip

Moshi Moshi!

Friendships can be chaotic in the insane world, but sometimes, you need people who are willing to dive with you underwater to show the pleasures of silence, you didn’t know existed. The cult classic portrays ‘friendships’ in different forms – occasionally, it could be brutally honest that stumbles your belief system, or it might just be shouting together at someone in the urinal. Here’s a closer look at all the friendship lessons from the picture that’s a chef’s kiss: ‘Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara.’

The ‘three musketeers’ grew apart, where one is busy minting money, the other has accidentally proposed to a woman, and the third one is at the crossroads of meeting his biological father. When Arjun, Imran and Kabir meet after a long time, they quickly realise that the bond they used to share in school is not the same. However, the evolved versions helped them realise what they had been missing the whole time. Without glamourising the “forever the same” concept, the film gracefully accepts the tension and strives to find a meaning behind it.

Was NOT Funny! – The iconic conversation between Arjun and Imran in the middle of the road takes the audience aback with quite a deeper meaning. In a world full of rotten second chances and grudges, ZNMD gives a different perspective, where Arjun accepts his pink phone and goes along with it instead of walking away. While pretending everything is fine could have made things worse, the confrontations helped them go a long way during the adventure time.

The bond between the three reignited at random places such as bars, roadside dances, the Tomatina festival and more. Arjun, who was busy calling his work wife Joe, bragged about making commissions and buying the luxurious bag in the first couple of hours of meeting them. Learning along the way, he realised that it’s fine to take a breath of fresh air with your friends, because who knows what the future holds.

The silliness between the three of them made them aware of what their roots were. Whether it’s the car karaoke on ‘Rock Chick’ or remembering Imran’s jingle ‘Diamond Biscuits,’ spending time with their friends in all the silliness helped them forget the problems that made their hearts heavy. The strongest friendships are not built on roses and poses; it’s the raw emotion that wins in the end.

Arjun, who was scared of water, had a meltdown after experiencing something truly extraordinary. When the three of them stop in the middle of the raging bull race or have second thoughts about skydiving, they somehow encourage each other to give it a try, making them fearless. A friend who dares to support you when even you don’t – that’s the kind of person who will reshape your life.

ZNMD showcases intricate knots between the three, with Imran not opening up about his father until the eleventh hour, Arjun not revealing his relationship issues, and Kabir not disclosing his second thoughts about marrying Natasha. However, when things start unwinding, they do not leave each other’s side. Friendship doesn’t need a detailed list about what’s been happening in your mind; it’s a simple presence that makes someone feel seen.

Well, it might not necessarily be a friendship lesson, but how can one forget Kabir’s iconic trick to make people reveal their secrets? The trick that made Arjun reveal that Kookie rejected him in the first couple of minutes, and Nikhil disclosed about a certain Ukrainian girl at his bachelor party. The answer? A simple “Maine tumhare baremai kuch suna hai…” might do wonders for your little tea sessions.