'The Industry Can Stereotype You In A Lot Of Ways'

She’s not only fair but extremely lovely! From Vicky Donor to Kaabil and now Batti Gul Meter Chalu, YAMI GAUTAM has enticed the audience with her charming attitude and amazing acting ability. It is her varied choices of roles that has caught our eye. As she lawyers up in Batti…, Sharbani Mukherjee asks her all about her recent film, courtroom drama, getting typecast and more. Read on…

- Sharbani Mukherjee

Yami, you were studying to be a lawyer earlier. So did that make you say yes to this role in Batti Gul Meter Chalu?

My dad had told me that either you finish Law or become an IAS - and I was a scholar and one of the highest ranking students in Punjab University. But you never know, destiny ke apne plans bhi hote hai. I couldn’t finish law but through Batti Gul Meter Chalu I actually got to know a lot. While I was pursuing law, we were not even allowed to go to court but for the movie I did. I got to learn a lot during shooting this film. And because I felt that instant connect, I said yes to the role.

How did you prep for this role? Did you get a chance to witness any courtroom drama?

I had been to the Bombay High Court and I wanted to have a first -hand experience of how things work. The lawyers were very kind enough to patiently answer all my stupid questions (laughs). Shahid used to tease me saying that I got to interact with some real lawyers which I did not get the chance to do while I was pursuing LLB. Of course, dramatics toh hote hai cases mein but when you go to lower court, aur bhi zyada drama hota hai. Like there is one scene in the movie between Shahid and me where there is a question on my character, so aisa sab real life mei bhi hota hai.

While signing the film were you concerned that it wasn’t a typical romantic lead?

I do not want to such typical romantic roles, I was worried that I wouldn’t get such opportunities where things are out of the box. And with this film, I got the opportunity to think out of the box. I wasn’t worried about not having songs or a lot of costume changes. I did not even know about the story but when I heard that this is a lawyer’s role, I got excited and decided that I will be taking this one up.

How is it working with Shahid Kapoor?