Small-town girls find a glimpse of themselves in my role: Yami

The core of the film Bala may be the tale of a man’s struggle with premature balding, but staying true to his style of filmmaking, director Amar Kaushik has ensured the narrative has a strong woman character, too. And in this film, the role is essayed by actor Yami Gautam. The actor plays a model from a small town in the Ayushmann Khurrana starrer and her role mirrors the aspirations of small town girls.

Ever since the film’s trailer has been released, Yami has been receiving compliments for her role. While the actor’s own journey from Chandigarh to Mumbai and eventually to fame in Bollywood is quite an example, young models and actors have written to Yami saying how they felt one with her character. Overwhelmed with the reactions, the 30-yearold says, “The love we have received for the film from whatever people have seen so

YAMI PLAYS A MODEL FROM A SMALL TOWN IN BALA WHERE SHE MIRRORS DREAMS OF SMALL TOWN GIRLS.

far has been rewarding. It’s a very unlikely part for me, something I haven’t done before. It’s a character modelled on a girl with big dreams from a small town. I’ve tried to stay as authentic to the part as possible while trying to add my own flavour to it.”

Yami was lauded for her recent work in Uri: The Surgical Strike. She credits her small-town upbringing for a better understanding of her character. “I think because it’s a representation of girls from smaller towns, which is the heartland of India, finding a glimpse of themselves and having a personal association with the role helped,” she says.