Patna: National Award-winning actor Yami Gautam Dhar attended the Jagran Film Festival on Friday, where she spoke about her cinematic journey, changing roles for women in Hindi cinema, family support and her upcoming film Nayi Naveli.
Interacting with the audience at Cinepolis, P&M Mall, after the festival’s inauguration and before the film screenings, Yami discussed the realities of working in the film industry and the personal experiences that have shaped her career.
Women And The Importance Of Family Support
Speaking about the responsibilities shouldered by women, Yami said both working women and homemakers strive to give their best.
“Whether you are a working woman or a homemaker, every woman strives to give her best. I don’t think we women merely divide our time; rather, we multiply it,” she said.
Sharing her experience as a new mother, Yami said family support has been important in allowing her to continue working.
“To be honest, we can achieve nothing without family support. If I am able to work here in Patna, far away from my home and young son, it is largely due to my mother,” she said.
She also acknowledged the support of her husband, Aditya, adding that a mother’s responsibilities never truly end.
Cinema Moving Beyond The Traditional Heroine
Yami also spoke about the changing representation of women in Hindi cinema, saying there is no longer a fixed format for how an actress should look or the kinds of films she should choose.
“There is no longer a fixed format dictating how a Hindi film actress or ‘heroine’ should look or what kind of films she should do,” she said.
According to Yami, audiences are increasingly looking for stories built around substantial characters.
“Films now need to feature characters—characters that have substance and a story to tell,” she said, adding that audiences want good stories and strong characters.
A Fresh Approach To Every Film
Reflecting on films including Vicky Donor, Bala, A Thursday and Article 370, Yami said she continues to approach each new project with the same sense of nervousness and excitement.
“Whenever I start shooting for a new film, I feel like it’s the first day of school,” she said.
Yami said the response to one successful film does not change the way she approaches her next project.
“Article 370 received immense love, but I set that aside and step onto the set with fresh energy,” she said.
She also spoke about her approach to challenging genres, including comedy, saying she tries to deliver her best performance from the first take because repeated retakes can make acting feel mechanical.
Yami said respecting the audience’s time remains an important part of her work and that audiences should never be taken for granted.
Every Role Requires A Different Approach
Discussing acting and preparation, Yami said no character is completely simple and each role presents a different challenge.
She said actors need to build a persona for a character and then inhabit it fully. For aspiring actors, she suggested treating every script as an opportunity to learn something new.
“I always feel there is room for improvement in my preparation. It keeps the desire to learn alive. Ultimately, I believe the scope for doing better never ends; it always remains,” she said.
Yami also stressed that cinema can be an important part of an actor’s life, but it should not become their entire life.
The actor’s interaction at the Jagran Film Festival also focused on Nayi Naveli, her upcoming project, and its engagement with issues concerning women, working mothers and family responsibilities.
