Yami Gautam Shares What Drew Her to Play the Captivating Character of Mohini in Nayyi Navelli!
Fresh off her National Award success, Yami Gautam is stepping into a grand new cinematic universe with #NayyiNavelli, promising an action-packed family entertainer that blends humour, fantasy, and raw emotion like never before.
After winning hearts and earning her first National Award for Article 370, Yami Gautam is ready to surprise audiences all over again. This time, she is diving into an entirely different, magical cinematic space with the upcoming fantasy entertainer Nayyi Navelli, slated for a big-screen release on October 16, right ahead of Dussehra. At the center of this ambitious, genre-bending film which mixes big laughs, heavy emotion, action, and pure fantasy is Yami’s character, Mohini.
Speaking candidly about what drew her to the role, the actor revealed that it was the stunning layers and contrasts in Mohini’s personality that made her say yes immediately. “For me, the most important thing was finding the balance between all these different sides of Mohini,” Yami shared. “What I really connected with was her warmth. There’s something very familiar about her, almost like a woman you’ve grown up around or someone you could easily have in your own family. But at the same time, there’s a certain mystery and mischief to her, and you never quite know what she’s going to do next. I loved that contrast in her.”
Bringing such a complex, unpredictable character to life isn’t easy, but Yami credits director Balaji Mohan for helping her navigate the unique world of the film. “Balaji Sir was very instrumental in helping me find that balance because he had such a clear sense of who Mohini was and the world she belonged to,” she added.
To ensure Mohini felt completely authentic even within a larger-than-life fantasy setting, immense detail went into designing her look. From her clothes and traditional jewelry to her hair and everyday styling, every element was carefully thought out. Yami wanted Mohini to feel like a real, lived-in person rather than just someone dressed up for a movie, ensuring viewers believe in her even when she is thrown into extraordinary situations.
Produced by Aanand L Rai and Himanshu Sharma under their banner Colour Yellow, in association with Amazon MGM Studios, and written by Himanshu Sharma and Divy Nidhi Sharma, Nayyi Navelli promises to be a massive theatrical spectacle. With top-tier creators at the helm and a stellar performer like Yami Gautam leading the charge, this upcoming family entertainer is shaping up to be an absolute must-watch event at the box office this festive season!
By Keerti Kadam