Bhumi Pednekar Celebrates Raksha Bandhan With Her Sister Samiksha: A Bond Like No Other

Time of India

4 days ago

Bhumi and Samiksha Pednekar are not just sisters, but each other's best friends, confidantes and now business partners, too. This
, as they continue their personal tradition of tying rakhis to each other, the Pednekar sisters open up about how their bond has deepened over the years — especially after losing their father at a young age.
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The siblings talk about how they fiercely stand by each other, even while knowing their boundaries.
How long has it been since the two of you have been tying each other rakhis?
Bhumi
: My mom has our pictures of us tying rakhis from the time when we were little kids. Over the years, the meaning of the ritual has changed for us. At its core, Raksha Bandhan for us is all about supporting your sibling, protecting them and just being there for each other.
Samiksha
: Rakhi would start 10 days before the festival.
We would go rakhi shopping and send rakhis via post to our cousin brothers. In fact, to this date, we do that.
Bhumi
: Through the years, we met some incredible people who are now our rakhi brothers. I have so many rakhi brothers. It just happens naturally sometimes that you meet some people, and they feel like family. Nikhil Shetty, who I bonded with during my initial years as an actor, is my rakhi brother. He was Shanoo Sharma's (casting director) rakhi brother and that's how I met him.
He's one of the strongest people I know, and he's supported me so much.
I lost my father, and he just took on that role so beautifully in my life.
You lost your father at a very young age. As the elder sister, did you feel a sense of responsibility to take care of the family? What was that phase of life like for you?
Samiksha
: When dad passed away, Bhumi transformed so quickly. She took over my pain. She took over the responsibility of the house. I really felt that protection.
Bhumi
: It just happened very organically. It was the correct thing for me to do for my family. We all stood up for each other.
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We all had our days and our moments. That's what a family unit does. You stand up for each other when the other person is falling. To date, the only person who truly, even emotionally, protects me from the world is my sister. Nobody can say anything about me in front of Samiksha. She can go up against the world for me.
Now, we are just not sisters, we are co-founders of a venture we started. Without defining boundaries, we have figured out each other's boundaries.
On a lighter note, the beauty of our relationship is that we fight every five minutes. They might look like fights to the world, but to us, it is a way of communication (laughs).
Bhumi Pednekar and Samiksha Pednekar celebrate Raksha Bandhan
Bhumi chose a career in showbiz — a space that can be overwhelming with constant scrutiny, social media chatter, and relentless judgment. As her sister, how have you been protective of her through it all?
Samiksha
: When she became an actor, social media was new. Somewhere in the middle of her career, it picked up, and the trolls came about. I would go on their page, report and even comment back. Bhumi always told me not to engage with the trolls, but then how do you not engage when you see something like that? I would engage without telling her.
Quick takes:
If you could associate your sister with a Bollywood character, who would that be and why?
Samiksha
: Bhumi would be Jaadu (Koi… Mil Gaya) because she's magical.
Bhumi
: She's quite fiery… I would say Damini.
If you swapped lives with each other on Raksha Bandhan, you would be…
Bhumi
: If I became Samiksha, then I would be a lot more disciplined.
Samiksha
: If I were Bhumi, then I would have better style!
Bhumi
: Oh my God… this answer is my best rakhi gift (laughs).