Yami Gautam Dhar: In an era where people can easily obtain content from all around the world, it’s difficult to stand out
Yami Gautam Dhar
Famous for films like “Vicky Donor,” “Badlapur,” “Kaabil,” and “Uri: The Surgical Strike,” Yami Gautam Dhar has been eagerly anticipating their releases over the past two years. Her six films, including Chor Nikal Ke Bhaga, Lost, Dasvi, A Thursday, Bhoot Police, and Ginny Weds Sunny, were all released simultaneously via over-the-top (OTT) services rather than theatres because of the pandemic’s effect on moviegoers. The actress isn’t moaning; rather, she’s thrilled by the prospect of expanding her fan base through digital media. She opens up to us about her unconventional acting roles and the new project she’s working on with her husband, the filmmaker Aditya Dhar. Excerpts:
Making an impression on OTT is difficult.
When asked about her digitally released films, she remarked, “With OTT, there are different parameters through which you get to know about your film’s performance, like how many people watched the film, how many of them watched the whole film, and how many left it midway.” The world’s information is at your fingertips, making it more difficult than ever to make a lasting impression with your writing. When I was able to do it with films like “A Thursday” and “Lost,” it meant a lot to me.
I finally figured out how to act naturally in front of the camera.
She says, “I feel 2021 and the first half of 2022 was overwhelming for sure” when asked how she felt about shooting many projects at once. All of these movies I was directing took a lot of prep work and we were shooting in different cities. There was a distinct sense of entering new realms and making new friends in each of these films. So, it did get overwhelming, but as I went along, I grew to appreciate the process, and I finally understood the actor’s technique of switching on and off.”
It’s preferable to wait before shooting a film in which you feel out of rhythm.
Yami notes that while she was eager to participate in major films, she waited for roles that would allow her to stretch her acting abilities. She elaborates, “When I made my debut with Vicky Donor, in my brain I was extremely clear about the kind of films I wanted to identify with. That persona was all about the show. I waited patiently for that to materialise into more opportunities, but it did take some time. You need to keep your head and heart level, and get to a place where being home is no big deal. If you’re offered a job or film that you know isn’t in line with the kind of work you want to do, it’s okay to wait.
Aditya is a filmmaker who respects the privacy of his or her cast and crew members.
Since her husband Aditya is a producer on her upcoming film Dhoom Dhaam, in which Pratik Gandhi also stars, she will have more time to spend with him. “We discussed a lot about the project before shooting commenced,” Yami says of their working relationship. And on the days he wasn’t working, I’d update him at home. He is the type of person who respects others’ privacy.
