YAMI GAUTAM UNPLUGGED
The actress talks about her marriage, and her journey in the film industry
KEEPING SILENT WITHOUT LOSING YOUR DIGNITY IS ALSO STRENGTH. SILENCE IS RATHER UNDERRATED. YOU WILL NOT SEE ME SPEAK ON EVERY ISSUE. I AM A RESERVED PERSON. ONE DOES NOT NEED TO SHOUT TO COME ACROSS AS A STRONG PERSON
— YAMI GAUTAM
ADITYA IS EXTREMELY SUPPORTIVE. THE NATURE OF MY JOB IS DIFFERENT AND WHEN I RETURN FROM MY LATE NIGHT SCREENINGS OR SHOOTS, HE IS UP WAITING FOR ME AND WE TRY AND HAVE A MEAL TOGETHER. IT IS ABOUT THE COMPANIONSHIP AND ROOTING FOR EACH OTHER
It’s been about a year since Yami Gautam married Aditya Dhar, the director of her biggest hit Uri: The Surgical Strike. The actress has been quite busy with her film commitments and so has he, with his projects.
“It has been good, we just wish we had more time with each other. At the same time, it has made our bond stronger. Thankfully we are very understanding of each other. Aditya is extremely supportive,” she says.
“The nature of my job is different and when I return from my late night screenings or shoots, he is up waiting for me and we try and have a meal together. Even during A Thursday and Dasvi screenings late at night, he would be up till 1.30 a.m waiting for me. It is about the companionship and rooting for each other,” the actress explains. “The idea is not to have any pre-conceived notions and to enjoy the little moments of life.”
Sharing that Aditya does significant things like bringing in house plants as a backdrop for her interviews, the actress says, “A relationship is a lot about those small things and that is one reason why I feel why we are so connected.” Talking about how
their relationship progressed, Yami says, “We never interacted on the set except when he was directing me. It was just work on the set. We actually started speaking to each other more when we were promoting the film. It is during the interviews that you listen to what the other person is saying and understand the kind of person he/she is. We liked each other’s personal values and ethics. I also saw how he conducted himself on the set. He would never tear his hair in moments of stress, he would go about his work calmly, and get the job done gracefully.” Their friendship grew after the film was over, says Yami.
“There was no proposal. There was no need for any. Our families were happy. My nani (maternal grandmother), who we lost recently, advised me to just
get married, without any other ceremony I asked Aditya and he said, ‘I am ready, are you? Let’s do it then!’ There were no real formalities. I guess we have learnt these things from the movies.”
Yami’s films have either been inspired by real life, or have influenced real life. For instance, recently, a few days after Dasvi was released, a former Haryana CM passed his SSC and HSC exams after being released from jail, exactly as it happened in the film. Clairvoyance or co incidence?
“It has happened with many films,” says Yami. “Many people told Aditya how they enlisted in the armed forces after Uri. A few people sent me personal messages about what had happened to them in real life after watching A Thursday. I felt good,” she adds.
“The word ‘strength’ can be interpreted many ways,” says the actress, who has been vocal against those who are unmindful of her rights and views.
“Keeping silent without losing your dignity is also strength. Silence is rather underrated. You will not see me speak on every issue. I am a reserved person. One does not need to shout to come across as a strong person,” she stresses.
She also points out that people grow, they learn from their experiences, and opinions change.
Yami’s idea of the kind of cinema she wanted to do changed over time.
“You start so young and when your first film (Vicky
Donor) is such a big success and your role was so substantial, you wonder how to choose your second film. I felt I would get good roles since my film had done well. But it doesn’t work like that. You are filled with doubts. Should I do a film that is all about song and dance? Should I do a film on the basis of the actor opposite me is? I did all that and then I stopped because I was not happy inside. I felt I was another person,” she shares.
“And then I got
Kaabil opposite
Hrithik Roshan. He was one of the biggest stars, and it was a good role and I worked hard.
There are people who tell me my role was short. How can one measure that? I worked hard for it. I did Uri because I felt strongly about the role. I knew the film was not about me. I did Bala because I loved the character of Pari.
People like Amar
Kaushik and Aditya went against advice to cast me in Bala and Uri,” she stresses.