Actress Freida Pinto has opened up about her split from longtime actor boyfriend Dev Patel, saying they remain best friends even after the break-up.

Pinto, 30, and Patel, 24, started dating while working on Oscar-winning film "Slumdog Millionaire" in 2008. The couple, however, ended their six-year-old relationship in December last year. "Everybody has their own little discoveries to make. Their own surprises, their own disappointments, and they're all part and parcel of life.

There is no way one person can sit down and go, 'But why did this happen to me?' Or, 'It was all going well, what the hell happened?' Or, 'No, this just can't be,' the denial of it," Pinto told USA Today.

"Running away from it is not going to help you find your answers. So we're facing it. And we're dealing. Dev and I are best friends. That's never going to change," she said. The split seems to be amicable as Patel also spoke highly of his ex, calling her a "wonderful human" and "one of the most impactful people" on his life.