Yami played TikTok star Pari Mishra in Bala, which also starred Ayushmann Khurrana and Bhumi Pednekar.

By BollywoodMDB Team | Updated On: May 27, 2022 09:59 AM IST

Bala marked a turning point in my career, says Yami Gautam — Image Source: yamigautam/Instagram

Yami Gautam has come a long way since her debut film Vicky Donor (2012). After completing a decade in the Hindi film industry, the 'Fair & Lovely' girl has learned some really important life lessons through her professional hits and misses.

This year has been particularly exciting for Yami, who started 2022 with a bang. Her grey portrayal of a school teacher in A Thursday (2022) won rave reviews. So did her tough cop act in Dasvi (2022), in which she featured alongside Abhishek Bachchan and Nimrat Kaur.

Talking about her refined choices in terms of films, Yami said, "If you see my filmography, I've mostly worked with new directors and second-time filmmakers. So it's about the script, the director... And I have to keep my vision and my perspective open. I want to focus on my performance, honing my skills, and doing something different. It's only then that I can stand out."

In a career spanning 10 years and after giving hit films such as Vicky Donor (2012), Badlapur (2015), Kaabil (2017), Uri: The Surgical Strike (2019), and Bala (2019), the 33-year-old actor feels deep gratitude for the niche and identity she has made for herself in the industry. However, she admits that Bala marked a turning point in her career.

"Bala came at a very crucial time. Its success changed everything for me. I believe certain things come to you at the right time. They transform your life, and your situations and bring about newfound confidence. It did just that for me," said Gautam.

Yami is a role model for many girls out there who wish to make a mark in Bollywood. Her success story is inspiring and the actress only feels blessed to be an 'inspirational' personality to others.

“With the kind of field I'm working in, I can still have my voice reach out to all the girls who are trying to make it on their own. I want to tell them that no dream is big or small. You're as good as what you do and what you believe in. We align our expectations with what society expects us to do but, in your heart, you might want to pursue something else. So I'd say, the journey is a tough one so fight it on your own and be fearless. Whatever work you get into, do it with dignity, respect and to the best of your abilities,” she concluded.

On the professional front, Yami has an exciting slate of projects lined up. She has committed to appear as the protagonist in Aniruddha Roy Chowdhary’s untitled social drama for which she has been shooting in Kolkata. Besides, she will also appear in OMG 2 – Oh My God! 2.