Yami Gautam recalls being asked to audition for Hrithik Roshan’s movie when others were not. She shares how one decision changed her career

Yami Gautam is currently making waves for her latest performance in Haq. The actress carved her own path in the industry over the years and made a name for herself. Known today for films that bring strong storytelling with social relevance, Yami’s journey has been steady rather than spectacular. Behind her success lies a story of persistence, self-doubt, and a crucial change in mindset that reshaped her career.

Yami entered the entertainment industry at just 20 and spent her early years working in television. Like many newcomers, she hoped films would follow quickly, but the transition was not smooth. In 2010, she made her big-screen debut with the Kannada film Ullasa Utsaha. While it marked an important step, it did not bring her instant recognition or stability. For several years after, she continued to audition, wait, and reassess her choices.

Yami Gautam gave screen test for Kaabil

Her big break in Hindi cinema came in 2012 with Shoojit Sircar’s Vicky Donor, opposite Ayushmann Khurrana. The film was both a critical and commercial success and earned praise for its bold subject and performances. Yet, contrary to expectations, the success did not guarantee a secure footing in the industry. Opportunities did not line up the way she had hoped, and uncertainty continued to loom large.

In a recent conversation with Humans of Bombay, Yami spoke candidly about this phase. She shared that there were many moments when she questioned her future, even after delivering a successful film. According to her, the doubts didn’t come just once, they surfaced repeatedly.

She explained that she often struggled to decode advice from people around her, realising later that not everything said was straightforward. What she truly wanted, she said, was honest and meaningful work.
Yami also spoke about how reminding herself of her own achievements helped her stay grounded. She noted that if she was capable of doing a film like Vicky Donor, then she had the ability to do more, even if the industry did not immediately show that belief.
One of the most telling moments she recalled was being asked to audition for Kaabil, the Hrithik Roshan-starrer, at a time when some of her contemporaries were not required to do so. Yami said she had no issue with screen tests and was happy to audition, but admitted that such situations do make actors wonder about the differences in treatment.
She told them, “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?”

What’s the one decision that changed her career?

These experiences eventually led Yami to pause and rethink her approach. She shared that she consciously decided to stop over-questioning outcomes and instead focus on choosing stories and filmmakers she genuinely connected with, within the options available to her. That shift proved decisive. Soon after, she landed impactful projects like Uri: The Surgical Strike and Bala, which redefined her career graph.

Meanwhile, on the personal front, Yami Gautam is married to Uri and Dhurandhar director Aditya Dhar. Dhurandhar is currently scripting history at the box office.