‘My journey has just begun’: Yami Gautam on completing 10 years in Hindi cinema

The actress also talks about her latest film, ‘A Thursday’, working with Dimple Kapadia, and more

While most of the world was robbed of its usual activity over the last two years due to the pandemic, Yami Gautam was in the midst of what she calls the busiest phase of her life. She had signed six films, was preparing for Behzad Khambata’s A Thursday, which she calls one of the most challenging films she has done, and, in between, got married as well.

“I think they were the best years of my life,” she says, “Personally, they were outstanding. Professionally — well, let us see how it pans out.” Yami is geared up for a busy year in 2022 as well, with at least four films slated for release. The year also marks the completion of a decade since her entry to Hindi cinema with the National Award-winning Vicky Donor. Excerpts: Yami talks about the changes she has observed within herself and the industry over the years, the kind of roles she pursues, and more.

I feel a lot of changes within yet I feel the same. I know it is a weird answer. If I have evolved as an actor, that is because I have evolved as a person. That goes hand in hand. [This evolution] comes only with experience. No matter how many advisors you have, it is your own experiences that teach you what works for you. You realise that you don’t have to take the route everyone has taken. You can be who you are.

Not a long time ago, people used to tell me you will only succeed if you attend so and so’s parties. If you don’t, then, you are not considered arrived and the kind of work you do doesn’t matter. That culture needs to be put to rest. It’s 2022 now. We talk about New Age cinema, New Age world. We need a New Age industry culture, where everyone can coexist.

I am very lucky to have made my debut with a cult film like Vicky Donor. That year saw some really good films like Kahaani and Barfi. Now, with this whole burst of global content, which is easily accessible, playing safe has become the most unsafe thing. There is no formula to a film’s success. It is going to be a big challenge to entertain and engage people because now they have a high standard to compare us with. I just hope more and more good roles are written. 

Five-six years ago, no matter how much I wanted to do certain roles, I couldn’t. Because you are shackled by your own fears or you are told that only certain kinds of films will work... But it is changing now. Whether you are a part of an out and out commercial film or a content-driven film, the role needs to be substantial. And, the audience isn’t biased towards a certain kind of role. When I did Bala, some people were like, ‘Oh, we never expected you to do comedy.’ I said, ‘Yeah, but that’s because no one offered me comedy.’ We didn’t write many substantial roles. But things are definitely getting better.

I am looking for characters that challenge me. I want to break my head over them and ask myself, ‘How do I do this?’, ‘How do I give people something they don’t expect out of me?’. But, when I am reading a script, it needs to excite me as an actor and as an audience. I wouldn’t do something that the audience will not connect with. I like a balance of both. Next, I would see how pivotal my role is in the film. And, it doesn’t matter if I am playing the lead, parallel lead, a cameo. You should not be able to define me, say, as a ‘girl-next-door’ or something like that. I want to be -- I hate to use this word because it’s overused -- versatile. From that perspective, my journey has just begun.