However, Pinto went on to say that she still shares a beautiful bond with Patel, and insisted that they will always remain close friends.

“You can’t share such a monumental shift in life, then not be friends,” she said. “That would be the saddest thing ever.”

Patel, similarly, has praised Pinto for making such an important mark on his life.

Speaking to The Guardian in 2015, the 26-year-old said: “We are incredibly close. She’s just a really generous, patient human being who has been one of the most impactful people on my life.

“A lot of my motivation has come from her, from being with her and knowing her.”

Freida Pinto’s incredibly important reason for splitting from Dev Patel