by Subhash K Jha

Is it possible for two actresses to become and remain friends? Ask Vidya Balan and Raima Sen who are as thick as thieves.

The friendship which started during the making of Pradeep Sarkar's Parineeta has been cemented further during the long outdoor shooting of Eklayvya in Rajasthan.

Says Vidya, "There are undercurrents of hostility when two women work together in any profession. And why just women? Even men are very competitive. But with Raima I shared an absolutely cool relationship. We hit it off like a house on fire from Day 1 during Parineeta."

"During Eklavya in Rajasthan we both had a lot of free time on hand. Raima and I got a chance to spend a lot of time together. I can tell you one thing for sure. Raima is the only friend I've in the industry. All my other friends are from outside the film industry."

Vidya thinks it's almost impossible to make friends within the industry. Raima disagrees.

"Of course two actresses can be friends. Jealousy and insecurities do crop up between two actresses. But Vidya and I trust each other and feel comfortable working together. I got along very well with Aishwarya Rai during Chokher Bali. In fact I've lots of friends within the industry. But Vidya is my favourite.

"There's no jealousy between us at all. She believes whatever has to come her way will come no matter what. She's therefore not competitive at all with me. We know we've our own places. We love working together me. Vidya loves and pampers me. We're alike in many ways. We do a lot of childish stuff together."

It's not the first time that two actresses have got along so well together. Esha Deol and Kareena Kapoor, Priyanka Chopra and Lara Dutt also used to be friends...Until they come professional rivals.