Yami Gautam Dhar : everything is connected to something

Yami Gautam was noticed in a fairness cream advertisment and became part of entertainment industry at an early age. Actually she had set eyes on becoming an IAS officer but destiny had other plans for her. #YamiGautam made her #Bollywood debut in a leading role in #ShoojitSircar’s romantic comedy ‘#VickyDonor’ with #AyushmannKhurrana. She received Best Female Debut Award at the #ZeeCineAwards. Later Yami featured in ‘#EeshwarNivas’, ‘#ActionJackson’, ‘#Badlapur’, ‘#SanamRe’, ‘#Junooniyat’, ‘#UriTheSurgicalStrike’, ‘#Bala’, ‘#Dasvi’, ‘#ChorNikalKeBhaga’, ‘#Kaabil’. In Kaabil she was paired with superstar #HrithikRoshan. Yami Gautam married #AdityaDhar on 4 June 2021. Yami has been dishing out hits after hits. Her career has seen a meteoric rise. Her #OTT outings ‘#Lost’, ‘Chor Nikal Ke Bhaga’ were well received and her last outing which is a theatrical release, ‘#OMG2’, entered the coveted 100 Cr club. She likes to keep herself busy and now she has committed to a new film for which she has allotted almost couple of month for shoot in North India. Our Asst. Editor Ms. Nisha Verma, some time back, happened to interact with #YamiGautamDhar. Excerpts from the conversation with inputs from our Sr Editor Keerti Kadam.

Seeing your filmography, how do you select your projects?
‘Wahi jo teen sthamb hai, script, director and your role’. I really like doing varied characters. Take a case of OMG 2. During COVID period Akshay Sir narrated me the story over Zoom call. Dr Dwivedi and Amit Rai, the writer of this film, told me that they are very passionate about this. Akshay Sir too said this is one of his career’s best scripts. I heard the script, and at the same time I told him I wished to read the script again because reading script over and over again, makes me connect to the character and makes me see it in a whole new way. After reading the script I said yes as I found the character quite challenging, enjoyable and most importantly I found the subject of the film quite relevant. After Vicky Donor, there was a trend, all the movies released then were on social subjects, social messages. I could understand the difference between a film and a project. I did not want to be a part of a project, I wanted to do a film.

How do you separate your personal and professional life?
I like to keep both apart from each other. Aditya and I, we both are from the same field and are bound to talk on films. But we keep it casual without getting into intense discussions when at home. I am a professional. While doing ‘A Thursday’, when we were to shoot the climax, I was into my wedding festivities. I had just gotten married. So it was happy happy at home but on the sets it was intense, dark and serious. But I knew the importance of performing the scene the way it was written. I am happy to pull it off successfully.

About OMG2, was it intimidating as Akshay Kumar was part of the film?
After zillions of experiences I’ve this assurity and excitement. Akshay Sir is a big star, he’s one of the most loved actors in the film industry. But, I always keep in mind that, which is that one reason where my audience will stay connected with me. The films that I become a part of, it is of utmost importance to me that I read the script first. I never forget what are those things which lead me to sign a film. For one second, I do get a thought that, yaa! Akshay Kumar approached me for a role, But next second, I need to read the script once more, just once more.

How much does Aditya contribute in selecting your films?
I got married after this film was narrated to me. Akshay Sir and nobody knew about it. The next time when I spoke to him, he was like ‘Tera Vyah Ho Gaya’, I just spoke to you and you got married. Aditya and my relationship, if I speak about professional side, I share everything with Aditya and I love it. I go back home from work, have a ‘Chai’ with him and I begin to tell him from A to Z. He hasn’t read any of my scripts but I’ve read many of his scripts. He broadly knows when a script comes to me, that Yami is working on this script. There’s always a very healthy conversation between us. I remember Aditya had shared an important thing with me which somewhere I was following as an actor, but I didn’t take it that seriously until Aditya told me the importance of reading a script multiple times and knowing it thoroughly. I jot down pointers, study in depth, visualise the role. I religiously follow this detailed process before starting a new film. And it’s paying off.

How important is it to discuss sex education?
About OMG2, more than a message it is a social subject which is not spoken about in public. This is the reason makers and writers of this film felt it necessary to portray it on screen. The age from 12-17 years for any student are very formative years of his life. In today’s day and age where there’s internet, every teenager holds a phone in their hand. There are thousands of opinions on everything. If I say plain drinking water 10 people will have their own 10 ways of how to drink water. Then why not educate about sex education? It is a part of our life. Not taking sex education as just a word but understanding the back story of it, how interconnected it is with a students psyche, that’s what the film is about. It is entertaining and I assure, one didn’t feel uncomfortable while watching it along with Family.

I started my career with Vicky Donor, a film which spoke about sperm donation. Back in that time audiences must’ve wondered what are they portraying but on watching they understood how the family got together, the ‘sur’ or the tone of the film and what it was trying to tell. OMG 2 is in the same genre but in a different manner. We tried to start a conversation. Change will not come with just one film. We’re not aiming at that. Neither am I proving anything to anyone. It’s up to the audience to decide after watching the film.

Till what extent do you believe in God?
I believe in God that there’s a superpower overlooking and watching all of us. I call my mother ‘Jagat Jannani’ as she introduced me to God. A mother always makes a child understand the concept of God. I love these conversations with my mother not because it is a part of religion but spirituality. If you try and believe and understand our value system, if you’ve read scriptures, texts, everything is written with so much clarity. There is a Goddess in each and every part of us that we actually pray to and say that take care of us, protect us. It is that much in depth. I’m an avid believer of God and hailing from Himachal there’s no chance of not having faith. Even today when I visit temples in Himachal I feel that power. It is an epicentre of power which is beyond you and me.

Everyone goes through ups and downs in their life. I have gone through times when I’ve felt nothing could go worst than this but, even during those times I don’t question God as he himself has gone through it when you read some texts you understand that, that incident happened and that’s the reason today I saw this day also. Everything is connected to something.

What rituals do you practice, do you keep fasts?
Once I fasted for 9 days of Navratri. Later, my mother explained that it’s totally your choice to fast but even if you don’t and you just pray, then too it’s fine. But I believe in everything. On waking up in the morning, I practice my spiritual ritual. At my home on Mahashivratri, we have a very elaborate pooja. But I’m not superstitious.

How do you look at it when actors visit famous temples during promotions of their film?
I’m nobody to question someone’s visit to a Holy Shrine. As I said, there’s power which attracts you.

Being a human, what is the right duty of an Actor?
Karma, if I’m interacting with you it’s because of my work. I’m very true to my work in terms of my script. My homework is important. I never take myself or my audience for granted.

What are your views on OTT and theatrical release?
OTT is a new platform which helped producers during Covid period when the theatres were shut down indefinitely. So the producers take a call taking into consideration the commerce part. I personally do not have qualms about OTT releases because quite a few of my films have done extremely well on that platform. But I get very excited when my film releases in theatres. Nothing can match theatre’s charm. My every film had a screening because it was thought and made for theatres but we have to adapt to the change. The theatrical viewing gives you a different experience even if you are surrounded by hundreds of other viewers. And on a lighter note, to have Samosas and Popcorn while watching a movie is a completely fascinating experience altogether. Both can co-exist. One film may be for theatres, another might be on OTT. It goes on.

Which film did you first watch on the big screen?
‘Maine Pyar Kiya’, nobody believes it because I must be a toddler.

Akshay Kumar is famous for his pranks and same goes for Pankaj Tripathi. How was your experience working with them?
I never experienced any pranks from any of them. They’ve never pulled my leg. What I found is that both are clear and kind and thorough professionals. Akshay Sir likes to speak with me in Punjabi. His Punjabi is way better than mine. He’s very straight forward and someone who speaks from his heart.

Do you have any fear of clash or competition at the time of your film’s release?
With so many movies being made, a clash is inevitable. But if the viewers like the subject, the film gets appreciated. I was very sure that ‘Chor Nikal Ke Bhaga’ will be liked by viewers. And they proved me right. Having said that I had a gut feeling about ‘OMG 2’ too and this time around too I am happy that wish coming true. You can never be 100 percent sure but I had a positive feeling about it. It comes from the writer and director, and how they present it. It’s such a sensitive subject; how do you make it a family film? That was a challenge to not shy away from. Amit (Rai) handled the writing superbly. When I read the script I was very sure that the story needs to be told exactly from this perspective. When I watch my film and if I like it as an audience then I am always sure that the film is going to work.