While many across the globe mark Friendship Day with celebrations, social media posts, and nostalgic reunions, former Bollywood actor and activist Somy Ali has a very different perspective. In a brutally honest conversation, Somy—who now runs her US-based NGO No More Tears (NMT)—shares why she doesn’t celebrate Friendship Day, how the entertainment industry shaped her views on human relationships, and why she prefers solitude and purpose over companionship.
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Join Telegram Channel“The older you get, the lesser company you want,” says Somy, as she reflects on how her experiences—both personal and professional—have reshaped her view of friendship. “Humans always want something from you. And in the end, they hurt you with deception. I’ve had too many people take advantage of my kindness. That chapter is closed.”
For Somy, her NGO—dedicated to rescuing and rehabilitating victims of domestic violence and human trafficking—is where she invests her emotions and energy. “My nonprofit is my best friend. I format recovery plans, I handle cases, and I’m on call 24/7. Between trafficking and abuse cases, I barely have time to breathe, let alone make time for superficial friendships.”
When asked about the commonly held belief that friendships are hard to form in the entertainment industry, Somy doesn’t mince words. “I don’t have a single friend in the industry. I’ve been away for over 20 years, and I don’t speak their language anymore—metaphorically. My world revolves around unimaginable trauma—children being raped, lives being lost. How can I relate to someone planning a movie party or red-carpet event when I’ve just held a dying nine-year-old girl in my lap who was trafficked 30 times a day?”
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Calling out the performative nature of showbiz friendships, Somy adds, “To be completely honest, no one is anyone’s friend in this industry. It’s all gossip behind closed doors. Celebrities have entourages, camps, and politics. True friendships are found among our soldiers who take bullets for each other—not at glamorous events.”
Somy also shared that she has no connection with her childhood friends, having moved from Pakistan to the U.S. at the age of nine. “I’ve always been a lone wolf. Even as a child, I only had one or two close friends. It’s part of who I am.”
On being asked about her idea of the perfect time with friends, Somy responds with a stark truth: “There are no days off when you do what I do. I’m not some martyr—I chose this life. Saving lives is my drug of choice.”
Her take on celebrations and holidays is equally unapologetic. “These days are meaningless to me. They’re money-making schemes where people buy gifts to prove love, then speak poorly about the same person later. That money could save a life or feed a family. I don’t participate in such hypocrisy.”
Despite her harsh realities, Somy remains grounded in a powerful mission: “I live in a world of horror most cannot imagine. But I chose this life. And if I can make a difference in just one life, that’s all the purpose I need.”
