No need to justify cinema to people with preconceived ideas: Yami Gautam | Bollywood

Actress Yami Gautam feels there is no point in justifying the intention of her film ‘Article 370’ to people who already have a preconceived notion that it is a propaganda film.

Gautam is helming the upcoming political drama, which marks the production debut of her husband, filmmaker Aditya Dhar through B62 Studios. Dhar is the director of the 2019 film “Uri: The Surgical Strike”.

The publication of ‘Article 370’ comes ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. Directed by Aditya Suhas Jambhale, the film will hit the screens on February 23.

“If anyone insults it… like ‘propaganda’, ‘chauvinism’ and ‘chest beating’… Any section that goes to the cinema halls already thinking or carrying a preconceived idea that it is what it’s about, you’ll never be able to feel or enjoy the movie. There’s no point in justifying the movie in their eyes. I don’t think the audience thinks about those things. This movie is meant to majority of the audience and we make films for the audience,” Gautam told PTI in an interview.

Also backed by Jio Studios, the makers said that ‘Article 370’ presents a “powerful narrative inspired by real-life events that shaped the destiny of Kashmir”.

On August 5, 2019, the central government revoked Article 370, which granted special status to the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir, and bifurcated it into the Union Territories of Jammu and Kashmir and from Ladakh.

Gautam, who plays an NIA agent named Zooni Haksar in the film, described ‘Article 370’ as one of the most fascinating stories she has read.

“And I felt that it had to come to life in cinema. I’m someone who relies a lot on my first instinct. If I don’t connect to the story or the script, I don’t try to convince myself to do it. “Whenever I feel good right after reading a script, I don’t think my audience has ever disappointed me,” she said.

The 35-year-old actor said playing a character based on the life of a real intelligence agent was an “honor” for her.

“While reading the script, all the thoughts about his character graph, behavior, intensity and action stunts were running through my head, but it was about putting them together and writing them down. I thought it was “It was a unique opportunity and I really tried to do justice to this character,” she added.

For Gautam, there are many firsts associated with ‘Article 370’. Besides the film being the first home production, she is preparing to welcome her first child with Dhar.

The actress said the team had finished filming the rigorous training and action portions by the time they found out she was expecting.

“At that point we only had the walking, the exterior parts and a few talking parts left. So I was lucky. It was better for me to be able to balance both sides. This (pregnancy) is something very personal. Aditya and I are very private people anyway.

“We had to be aware, but I didn’t want to be. I am responsible for the life growing inside me and I will do everything I can to take care of it. But there is a commitment I made as a professional (that I had to keep),” she said.

Gautam will next be seen in ‘Dhoom Dhaam’, a caper comedy from B62 Studios which also stars Pratik Gandhi.