Yami Gautam Dhar is eagerly awaiting two ‘releases’. First is the hard-hitting Article 370, front-lined by the actress, which attempts to tell the inside story of the abrogation of Article 370 in Kashmir that took place five years ago. The second, of course, is Yami’s first child, due in a few months, with filmmaker-producer Aditya Dhar. t2 chatted with the glowing mum-to-be on the political thriller, set to screen in theatres on February 23, and how she is enjoying her pregnancy.

Congratulations mommy-to-be! It must be such a special feeling...

Thank you! I am looking forward to this new phase in my life. Reality sinks in every day and it is such a beautiful feeling.

Did you film Article 370 while you were pregnant?

Luckily, all the heavier stunts and training had happened before. There is so much going on in my life now and I had to balance that with this film, which has one of the most important roles of my career. Luckily, Aditya (Dhar, husband and the film’s co-producer) was there and it worked out fine. And here we are, ready with the film. So technically, my baby has been a part of this journey as much as I have.

This looks like a role that was demanding, both physically and emotionally. There have been quite a few difficult and layered roles that you have aced in the last few years. Where would you place this film in comparison?

It was different and tougher than what I had done in the past. That is what makes it interesting and fun. This is the kind of film where even when there is no action in a scene, there is so much emotion. This role is many steps higher than all the roles that I have done before.

It must have been creatively very fulfilling...

Absolutely! When you shoot a film, you shoot it in parts and every scene is shot in a different order. You know the chronology but there is no progression of emotion. You could be in a completely different mood and the other scene could be a different switch. Hence, an actor needs to be aware of the fact that this is how I am feeling right now, this is what I did and this is how it is going to be in the film at this point in time.

When I watched the film finally, I was like: ‘Oh my God! I am so excited to be in this film.’ I was happy that this is something I can look back at and say to my baby: ‘Yes, we did a good job!’ (Laughs)

What was your reaction when you first heard the script?

I read the script... I always read my scripts. I finished reading and realised how there are certain things which still leave you amazed even years after they have happened. When we heard about the abrogation of Article 370, we didn’t know what went into it. Even though I am not a Kashmiri, I could feel the emotion, pain, that feeling of redemption. And when I heard the story behind how it happened, I found it incredible.

There is, of course, only that much that one can pack into a two-hour film, but we have managed to show how efficiently and discreetly so many departments worked together to make it happen. I think it has to be one of the most incredible stories ever and it tells you that there are some highly intelligent people working out there. Everything was in sync between the PMO (prime minister’s office), intelligence agencies and the Army. When I was shooting for Uri, we knew that a similar thing had happened while carrying out the surgical strike.

We feel fortunate that we have got a chance to showcase it on screen. Even as a genre, it is very new and hasn’t been explored much in our films.

That Aditya is a Kashmiri must have also made it an emotional experience...

Absolutely! I remember in my salad years of education, there was not much that was taught about this. There were maybe only two or three lines about how a genocide had happened and that there was an ethnic cleansing. I remember these two or three words. I had no idea about the depth of what had happened and what the consequences were on the people there.

Later, when I met Aditya and his relatives, there were some stories which I came across which you do want to hear and yet do not want to hear. The whole idea of making this film was that people should know what the abrogation of Article 370 meant and why it is a landmark chapter in our political history.

Today, it feels nice to see everybody flourish in the state. Being with Aditya, both then and now, I connect to the emotion of most of them not wanting to delve into this dark phase as well as share the joy that they feel now. The abrogation was a very important step not only for Kashmiri Pandits but for everyone who is a part of Kashmir. When we shot the film there, we could see so many tourists, so many big houses and everyone was moving around freely. All of them had a common thing to say — that the situation has been much better over the last three or four years.

Of course, I am talking about the majority sentiment... it is not possible that there will be complete unanimity about this move. But we can all see the good that is happening. The G20 Summit happened there. Everywhere we went, we were so happy to see the Indian flag. That was the best feeling.

How does this film take forward the intent that you have shown in the films that you have successfully front-lined over the last few years?

It has helped me evolve a lot more. If you come up with a graphic representation of the various genres I have done over the last few years, you will probably come up with an amoeba! (Laughs) That is because there is no fixed pattern. I don’t want to follow any particular route. I don’t want to make any statements and not corroborate them with the kind of work I do. I believe in giving voice to my choices and I have to resonate with the kind of work I do. I don’t chase projects, I chase good stories and good roles. My criterion will always be script first, no matter what.

I take pride in how far I have come. I don’t work with expectations of awards. Of course, I want my films to do well, I want my audience to love my films... when they love my films and they connect with what I do, that is the best feeling.

I have no complaints about the kind of films I am being offered. I don’t have any thoughts that this is how my next film should be. I am happy to see that producers and directors are showing interest in me with some important subjects, work which is substantial as well as of substance and saying: ‘We think you will be great for this part.’ Honestly, I have no names in my head and neither any benchmark of what success is. I am very happy with what I am doing.

I try not to get too attached to my work. One of the most important things I have learnt is not to take myself too seriously. Everything happens for a reason, it happens in its own time.

I know you are happiest when working. How much are you looking forward to the break once the baby arrives?

Before that, I have another release (Dhoom Dhaam) — no puns here! (Laughs) I have also made a soft commitment to another film. They are being very nice and understanding and telling me to do it only when I am ready.

As far as this phase is concerned, I am consciously not reading anything on the Internet. I am just being happy, being around my family, eating good food, working and resting whenever the doctor advises me to. I am being cautious but the key is not to overthink and overstress.

I had no idea about how one is supposed to feel during pregnancy, but your body automatically tells you. I didn’t know I was pregnant and suddenly I didn’t want to have any of my favourite things, including chai, which is my absolute favourite. That is when I knew, I think (smiles).

Priyanka Roy
Which is your favourite Yami Gautam Dhar role? Tell t2@abp.in