Yami Gautam on facing a low phase after Vicky Donor: I felt wary of going to public events

Going through ups and downs is a common phenomenon in any Bollywood actor’s life, but Yami Gautam believes in going with the flow and not losing hope in life. The actor says that she learned this while dealing with a low phase right after the success of her debut film, Vicky Donor (2012), as two of her subsequent films — Total Siyappa (2014) and Action Jackson (2014) — tanked at the box office. She admits it was difficult for her to cope when these films failed to make a mark.

“After the success of your first film, there is a pressure on you regarding what your next project is going to be. Two of my films after Vicky Donor did not do well. So, there was a time when I used to feel ‘How am I going to go out for an event?’ because I did not know what I would tell the media about what I was doing next, and how I’d respond to them asking me about my films not doing well. I was too young and too new to understand how to handle all these questions. And it was not easy,” says Yami.

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At that point, the actor shares that her family stood by her side. “My mum and sister helped me during that time. They helped me cope with the situation and made me realise that such things are a part and parcel of this industry and life in general. I decided to concentrate on grooming myself and improving my skills, rather than just feel bad about what has happened and crib about it. What’s important is that you have to keep going and every time you fall, you try and get back with a fresher energy and a newer self,” she adds.

Yami also feels that now she is more prepared to deal with such things. “Yes, such things will keep happening but this time I am prepared and I will be able to handle it better. This time I will gobble the ice cream, may be with a smile. You just cannot give up, and you have to keep working,” says the Kaabil (2017) actor.

Yami is currently working on two films — Shree Narayan Singh’s Batti Gul Meter Chalu, also starring Shahid Kapoor and Shraddha Kapoor; and Aditya Dhar’s debut venture Uri, which also stars Vicky Kaushal.

Talking about her upcoming films, an excited Yami says that once you are back with a bang, good things also start happening to you. “There is so much to do, I’m loving every part of it. This year has started with a lot of excitement. Both Batti Gul Meter Chalu and Uri are two very interesting projects and this is just the beginning of the year. So yes, I’m really happy,” she signs off on a positive note.