declare @t1 table
(idx int primary key, nme1 varchar(200), nme2 varchar(200))

insert into @t1 values(1, 'brad pit', 'angelina jolie');
insert into @t1 values(2, 'keanu reeves', 'jennifer lopez');
insert into @t1 values(3, 'brad pit', 'jennifer aniston');
insert into @t1 values(4, 'orlando bloom', 'kiera nighley');
insert into @t1 values(5, 'keanu reeves', 'heidi klum');
insert into @t1 values(6, 'ed harris', 'maryl streep');
insert into @t1 values(7, 'keanu reeves', 'jennifer lopez');
insert into @t1 values(8, 'brad pit', 'angelina jolie');

--Let's say my SQL as following,

select distinct left(nme1,2) as nme1, nme2
from @t1

select distinct left(nme1,2) as nme1, nme2
from @t1 where nme1 like 'br%'