Entertainment

IIE DIGITAL: Yami Gautam’s Bollywood journey may have started on a high note with Ayushmann Khurrana starrer ‘Vicky Donor’, but establishing herself in the Hindi film industry was far from easy. Despite the film’s success, the actress revealed that there was a phase when she nearly decided to walk away from acting and return to her roots in Himachal Pradesh.

In a recent conversation, Yami opened up about the challenging period before the release of ‘Uri: The Surgical Strike’, admitting that she had almost made up her mind to leave Mumbai and begin a new life away from films.

The actress said that although ‘Vicky Donor’ (2012) received widespread appreciation, she was not introduced as a typical Bollywood heroine. As a result, she struggled to find diverse and impactful roles in the years that followed.

Yami recalled that before the success of ‘Uri’ and ‘Bala’, she had reached a point where quitting the industry felt like the right decision. She even considered returning to Himachal Pradesh, where her family owns agricultural land, and starting a completely different chapter of her life.

She said her parents stood by her decision and encouraged her to return home if she felt that was the right path. However, destiny had other plans. The back-to-back success of ‘Uri: The Surgical Strike’ and ‘Bala’ in 2019 transformed her career and brought her new recognition in Bollywood.

Yami also spoke about the difficulties faced by outsiders in the film industry. She explained that while people with film backgrounds often receive repeated opportunities despite setbacks, newcomers have to constantly prove their talent and worth.

According to the actress, there were moments when she felt ready for certain roles, but those opportunities went to people who were already connected with the industry. She questioned whether having similar opportunities could have helped her grow further as an actor.

Despite her struggles, Yami believes Bollywood is slowly changing. She feels audiences today are more focused on an actor’s talent, the quality of films and the credibility of their work rather than their family background.

The actress also admitted that favouritism in the industry affected her emotionally, as several projects that appeared close to happening suddenly disappeared without any explanation.

Yami Gautam, who has gradually built a strong identity through films like ‘Uri: The Surgical Strike’, ‘Bala’ and other performances, says the changing mindset of viewers gives hope to future generations of artists.

She will next be seen in filmmaker Balaji Mohan’s upcoming project ‘Nayi Naveli’.