Yami Gautam

Yami Gautam is a prominent Indian actress known for her work in Hindi films, as well as a few Telugu, Tamil, Kannada, and Malayalam movies. Born on November 28, 1988, in Bilaspur, Himachal Pradesh, Yami was raised in Chandigarh. She comes from a well-educated family with her father, Mukesh Gautam, being a prominent Punjabi film director and VP of PTC Punjabi. Initially, Yami had aspirations of becoming an IAS officer, which led her to pursue a degree in law honors at Panjab University. However, her interest in acting took over, and she left her studies mid-way to pursue a career in modeling and later transitioned to acting.

She began her career in television, making her debut with the show “Chand Ke Paar Chalo” and later appearing in “Yeh Pyar Na Hoga Kam,” which garnered her early recognition. Her transition to films was marked by her critically acclaimed debut in the 2012 Hindi film “Vicky Donor” opposite Ayushmann Khurrana. The film was a sleeper hit and addressed the taboo topic of sperm donation in India. Yami’s performance as the charming Bengali girl Ashima Roy received widespread appreciation and marked her as a talent to watch out for.

Following “Vicky Donor,” Yami appeared in various films like “Total Siyapaa” (2014), “Action Jackson” (2014), and “Badlapur” (2015) where she played more diverse roles. Though some of these films didn’t fare well at the box office, Yami’s performances remained consistently appreciated. In 2016, she starred opposite Pulkit Samrat in “Sanam Re” and “Junooniyat,” which were moderate in terms of success. However, it was her performance in “Kaabil” (2017) opposite Hrithik Roshan, where she played a blind woman, that earned her major critical acclaim and re-established her as a serious actress.

Yami later appeared in multiple successful films including “Uri: The Surgical Strike” (2019) where she portrayed an intelligence officer, and “Bala” (2019), where her comic timing and portrayal of a superficial model won hearts. Her role in “A Thursday” (2022), where she played a school teacher who turns hostage-taker, earned significant praise for her intense and layered performance. She continued her streak with critically praised projects like “Dasvi” (2022), “Chor Nikal Ke Bhaga” (2023), and “Article 370” (2024), which highlighted her growth as a performer willing to take bold roles.

Beyond films, Yami is also known for her brand endorsements and has been a prominent face for fairness cream brands, although later she distanced herself from such endorsements. In 2021, Yami married filmmaker Aditya Dhar, known for directing Uri, in a private ceremony. Despite her initial image as a “girl-next-door,” Yami has managed to evolve into a versatile actress capable of balancing both mainstream and content-driven cinema.