Yami Gautam was asked to audition for Hrithik Roshan starrer 'Kaabil' but her other contemporaries did not: 'I was more than happy, but why the difference?'

Yami Gautam is a really happy and proud wife at the moment with Aditya Dhar's directorial 'Dhurandhar' smashing box office records and gathering accolades. The film has crossed Rs 600 crore at the domestic box office and become the biggest grosser of the year. However, it's also been a spectacular year for Yami. The actress known for always playing some meaningful characters on screen, be it ''Uri: The Surgical Strike' and 'Article 370' has her own special fan following. However, it has taken a while for the actress to reach this point and she's had her share of struggle. Yami was a Television actress before she made her Hindi film debut with Shoojit Sircar's 'Vicky Donor'. In a recent conversation, Yami spoke about her journey and also recalled facing moments where she felt uncertain about her career.

She said during a chat with Humans Of Bombay, “Back then, things were much more challenging,” she said. “There were times when I would think, ‘I don’t think it’s going to work out,’ or ‘Should I go back or hold on a little longer?’ You start wondering, ‘Is this it?’"




Asked when she felt this way, Yami answered simply: “Multiple times.” “There’s never just one moment,” she explained. “Even after coming into films, even after Vicky Donor, there were moments when I questioned a lot of things. You take people at face value, but later realise there’s often subtext to what they’re saying. Everyone has suggestions and advice, but all I needed was good work.”

Looking back at that period of self-doubt, she added, “If I am the same person who did a film like 'Vicky Donor', then I must have some potential.”

Yami also reflected on the unpredictable nature of casting which sometimes also may seem unfair. “I realised that every film reveals something new, and you’re never ‘good enough’ to get THAT film of your life. So what’s the point of obsessing? Whether you’re cast in a film depends on someone else’s decision, and that decision isn’t always based on your potential, it’s influenced by many other factors.”

Expanding on the point, she said, “It could be anything. Not just in the industry but anywhere. Very random reasons, often ones that don’t make sense. But you also can’t force someone to like you enough to cast you. I am happy to screen test.”

Recalling one such experience, Yami shared, “I screen tested for 'Kaabil' and I was more than happy to do that. I am not saying it was for 'Kaabil' but when you’re asked to screen test while another contemporary isn’t, you do wonder, why the difference?” 'Kaabil' starred Yami opposite Hrithik Roshan.

Eventually, the actress chose to step back and reset her approach. “I decided to stop questioning,” she said. “I took a breather and rewired the way I approached films, choosing the kind of stories and directors I wanted to associate with, within the choices I had. And that’s when Uri and Bala happened. After that, everything changed.”

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