MUMBAI: After a nasty break-up five years ago, Chetna Pande, who has appeared on shows like Fanaah, Ace of Space, and Khatron Ke Khiladi 12, was disillusioned with relationships. But then, friendship can heal anything even a broken heart.
Chetna finally found love with her close friend, director Nishank Swami. Calling Nishank her strongest support, Chetna, who opens up about their three-year-long relationship for the first time, shares, “He has been through my thick and thin.

When we became friends, I was dealing with an ugly break-up and struggled with trusting people. I wasn’t ready for a new relationship. However, Nishank’s loving and caring nature nurtured me through that difficult phase.

I’m glad that we came together to form this beautiful connection. The most beautiful aspect of our relationship is that Nishank understands my silence. We always encourage and support each other in our pursuits. It can’t get better than falling in love with your best friend (smiles). Love finds you when you least expect it and that’s what happened to me when 11 years of friendship turned into the love of a lifetime.” Nishank, who also happens to be Arjun Bijlani’s brother-in-law recalls, “I first met Chetna at my office during a calendar shoot 11 years ago. 

She used to compliment my work and encourage me to push boundaries. Though I liked her, I couldn’t imagine asking her out because, for me, she was the most beautiful girl I had ever met, seemingly out of my league. I moved on and got into another relationship. Unfortunately, it felt suffocating as I loved Chetna deeply. So, instead of forcing a relationship with my then-girlfriend, I ended it. Around that time, Chetna hinted at having feelings for me as well. 

One day, we went out partying and I hugged her tightly, half-expecting her to push me away. To my surprise, she hugged me back, and that’s when our friendship took a romantic turn.”
With the relationship going steady, are they planning to take it to the next level? “It is surely on my mind, but for now, we are focussed on our respective careers and co-producing content. I also want to be directed by him soon,” she replies.