Exclusive | Yami Gautam on her career lows: I wouldn't put it on anyone else; you have to go through the drill

To say she is an absolute stunner of an actress, would be redundant. But, trying calling her ‘OTT ki Rani’ and she blushes...

In the recent past, Yami Gautam has given manly highly resonate-able and well-rounded characters, especially with films such as Chor Nikalke Bhaga and Lost, and the actress is in no mood to slow down.

Yami, during our recent exclusive interview, touched upon the subject of ‘arriving’ in Bollywood, the life lessons that her parents have imbibed in her (which she swears by) and expressed her gratitude for the film that had resurrected her career.

Edited excerpts from our conversation with the star:

So first, it was Lost and now we have Chor Nikalke Bhaga. You have delivered two back-to-back hits on OTT and we are not even halfway through the year yet. So is it safe to say already that 2023 belongs to Yam Gautam?

YG: I don't know but thank you. I know that’s a compliment. But it's very embarrassing for an actor to say, at least on record that this year belongs to me (laughs!). Otherwise, I think everyone keeps giving these great stories left, right and center and to see what everyone else is doing—and everyone else is doing great. But for me, it's been very special for me right Dasvi to A Thursday, and two of those films belong to, of course, our very dear Dinu (Dinesh Vijan, producer) and so I am very happy. When you are in sync with what the audience wants and what they're liking both commercially or creatively, and to keep both, you know, these factors literally aligned and balanced is very hard. So, when you see that happening, be it whether an OTT or theatrical, it's really satisfying as a creative person.

So recently Kangana Ranaut was all praise for you, and I quote, “Yami Gautam is quietly delivering the most successful films.” So how does it feel to receive such appreciation from a fellow actor, especially someone as accomplished as Kangana herself?

YG: (I feel) really good... very good! And, (its) very sweet of her. I accept it with a lot of humility and gratitude in my heart. And I've always believed that anyone who's gracious to you—who's kind to you—just accept nicely and yeah, that's very, very sweet of her.

And everyone who's reached out and complimented, I think, especially when it comes from a contemporary or someone senior—whose body of work you look up to—or anyone you know, it's such a nice gesture, especially in today's time when there is so much happening (and) everyone's consumed with their own work, with their own lives and with gazillion things that are happening in life. And, someone taking out time to write something good about you to make you feel good, I think that's very kind. So, (it) felt really good.

I feel like your character in Chor... is both a sinner and has been sinned against. In what ways was she similar to you, if at all?

YG: We are often asked such questions, ‘What are the similarities? And, how do you connect and don't connect?’ I don't think like that for any of my characters, that's how I think we are similar and we not that'. I don't think that's the question which is important for me at all when I'm reading (a script). That's why I really prefer reading a script even before signing (a film). This is what I've been told, ‘you are one of the few actors who likes reading it, a lot of actors love taking narration’.

But, with me, what happens is while reading I just imagine better. And, for me, I'm almost imagining a parallel human just standing next to me. And that's what I do. So, even if it's, of course, me who's playing that character but for me, it's an entirely different person that I'm imagining and I have to now internalize that person for those many days or for what my commitment is to a film. So, but one thing I can tell you, I knew that after watching this film, like this was my mother, she came on set a couple of times. And, of course, she knows the story of all my films that I've done or they are yet to get released. And she said—one day before the release— ‘this film is also going to do really well, Yami. I think people will love it, especially girls will really enjoying this’. And this is the kind of response I've got. I've my sister called me and she's like, you know, my friends called me they're like hume bhi ek do badle aise lene chahiye the (laughs!). That's the kind of reaction and that's a compliment that when your audience is connecting with the character, with the story and moving with that emotion that was only for my character, that's a victory.

In the last decade, of course, your movies have done well since your debut with Vicky Donor and you have had many hits in-between, but what do you think took so much time for the world to recognize the versatile actor in you?

YG: I can’t answer on behalf of the world but I will just use this quote and finish this interview with what my parents say, which is that ‘samay se pehle aur bhagya se zyada kabhi kisi k kuch nahin milta’. So, and you cannot measure success by thinking what more is left to be achieved? And you measure it by actually seeing how far you've come. I think this is what I've read somewhere and I really believe so while, of course, the ups and downs is something everyone has to go through (in) their own journey, everyone has their own path. And, it's definitely harder. It's definitely challenging for not just me, (but) I am sure for a lot of actors like me, or writers and directors and being married to a producer, let me tell you, and of course, Dinesh Vijan is one of the best producers we have some show he can corroborate. It's one of the hardest things being a producer. So, everyone has their ups and downs, and with some stories you don't know.

Sometimes you get success right with your first film. But then you have to go through the drill of what this place is all about. And I wouldn't put it on anyone else, I don't want to do that. I'd rather say that I think it helped me also realize and understand myself better what I wanted out of this profession, what I wanted out of my work, I got better understanding of what to do and what not to do. Most importantly, and the day that happened, I think everything just changed for me. And so, there are no complaints. And I've always said this very openly that while Vicky Donor first was my first film and so thankful to have made a debut with such a substantial film like Vicky Donor, but Bala was a film that literally resurrected my career all over again. And I believe the Universe has power up there watching all of us so miserable, all calm and goodness comes to you, and I think (that’s how) you sustain and I'm not trying to make any image here. I'm not trying to build anything new. I'm just trying to do one character after the other, one story after the other. And I think that is what will have me stay here. Also, longer because I don't think there is any bar or any age or has any restriction. It's as fluid as what I'm trying to do.