A star is born - New Article & Pic Of Yami

She is the talk of B-Town. A sparkling debut has turned the tables for Yami Gautam. Well, it couldn't have come at a better time as her Mollywood debut, Hero, opposite Prithviraj, is ready for release .

Yami's Bong act in Vicky Donor, a film about sperm donation which has been getting rave reviews from all quarters, opposite debutant Ayushmann Khurrana, has won her several fans. "God has been so kind to me… I never expected such a great response for the movie…," says Yami over the phone.

Life has changed a lot for Yami, who can light up the screen with her girl-next-door looks and infectious smile. The 'Fair & Lovely' girl – she has been the face of the brand for a long time – has a handful of Hindi serials and films in Telugu, Kannada and Punjabi behind her. Now, Yami is all geared up to "surprise the audience". Like she did in Vicky Donor. "I'm a Pahadi Punjabi who plays a Bengali (Ashima Roy) in the movie. But many thought I was a Bengali. That is great! The movie itself was a huge surprise for the audience on account of its theme. I want to be part of such different movies," she says, excitement punctuating each word of hers.

Vicky Donor, directed by Shoojith Sircar, is actor John Abraham's debut production.

This law student from Chandigarh was all set to become a civil servant. "When I was very young, I used to say that I wanted to be a teacher or an actress. Being good in academics, I was all set to join the Indian Administrative Service (IAS). But, destiny took a different turn and here I am," she says.

From ads to films

Three years ago she shot her first ad for Prince Jewellery. A delight to watch on screen, Yami soon shot a slew of ads for Fair & Lovely, which eventually paved her way to Bollywood. She is also seen in the new ads of Samsung mobile and Mirinda (with Asin).

Yami became part of Diphan's Hero via the ad she shot with Prithviraj for Kalyan Silks. Hero wasn't an easy outing, since learning Malayalam has been a huge challenge, she says.

"It is such a tough language. Now if you ask me to say a particular word, I can't, but I can say a full sentence!," says Yami, bursting into laughter. She adds: "However, there wasn't any stress since it was a great team to work with."

She plays Gauri Menon, a young actor, who falls for stuntman Tarzan Antony, played by Prithviraj. "The movie has got a fantastic theme. The content of a movie matters most for me. I'm glad that I got this movie," says Yami.

A clear vision

Yami appears to have got her priorities right. "Each work, be it an advertisement or a serial, has been a stepping stone for me. Script, director and my role – all three matter when I say 'yes' to a film. I am very clear about my parameters. My strength is my acting. I do ensure that I have to do something meaningful in a movie," she says.

She is in no hurry to sign more films. "The other day a friend was telling me that I sounded so normal even after having got a great debut. It is true, for I have to think ahead and choose the right role.

"I've got many offers and has been hearing the stories. My strength is that I am confident enough to say 'No' when I don't like something. It is something that my parents taught me. They told me it is so important to say 'No'," she says.

Reel journey

Movies: Yuddham (Telugu), Ek Noor Rabiha (Punjabi), Nuvvila Archana (Telugu) and Ullasa Utsaha (Kannada)

Television: Serials like Chand Ke Paar Chalo, Raajkumar Aaryyan Rajkumari Bhairvi and Yeh Pyar Na Hoga Kam and as a contestant in reality shows like Meethi Choori No.1 and Kitchen Champion