Talktime
Yami Gautam
After making a dhamakedaar entry in Bollywood with Vicky Donor which bagged her star debut of the year award by IIFA, Yami Gautam is all set for the release of her second Hindi film Total Siyappa opposite Ali Zafar. In a candid chat with SANGEETA YADAV, she reveals some of the best experiences she had in the making of this film
Tell us about your role in Total SiyappaIJ
I’m playing Asha Sharma, a TV presenter in london who is madly in love with Aman, a Pakistani boy. With intentions of marrying him, Asha plans to introduce her boyfriend to her family members. But that very day nothing falls in place for the lovers. A lot of comic situations unfold and Asha’s life goes for a tumble. That is the crux of siyappa (complete chaos) in everybody’s life. The story is inspired from a Spanish movie titled Only Human (2004).
Is the film centered around a crazy Punjabi familyIJ
There is an angry dadi who keeps a rifle close to her at all times and is ever ready to shoot at whoever dares to annoy her. The film also has a typical Punjabi housewife, played by Kirron Kher who doesn’t hold back her emotions at any time. Her weapon is the belan which she flashes at everyone. To balance these characters we also have a cool dude of a brother and a smart sister. Not to forget Anupam Kher as a biwi ka ghulam. What makes this Punjabi family different is the way every character has been nurtured differently. Everybody gets trapped into a comedy of errors.
How did you prepare for this projectIJ
It didn’t require much preparation. This is the first time I’m doing a comedy film. It was more of spontaneity and comic timing than dialogue baazi. We underwent a few days of workshop to understand each other and that was all.
How was your experience working with veteran actors –Anupam and Kirron KherIJ
It was a treat. The audience will get to see this lovable couple after such a long time. They are the most adorable couple in Bollywood. It was a golden opportunity for me to work with such senior actors. They are all so full of life, especially Kirron who behaves like a child on the sets. She can interact on any topic at any time. She is a very frank and caring person.
Any learning experienceIJ
I’ve learnt to never take things for granted. I’ve seen how senior actors go about their work with such professional attitude. Even Anupam and Kirron would report to the sets on time and go about shooting in a normal manner. They didn’t have any airs about themselves. Ali Zafar is a multi-talented person and has a effortless comic timing. It was a pleasure to work with him and see him managing all his passions like a cake walk.
Any memorable scenesIJ
We were shooting in london where the temperature was a chilly two degrees. We could barely speak our dialogues let alone giving expressions. It was a a huge challenge.
Do you have a total siyappa moment in real lifeIJ
Everyday it’s a siyappa with the Mumbai traffic. It’s takes a lot of time to travel from one place to another. I have to clock my day according to the traffic. It’s a very chaotic situation out there.
Any fun anecdote from the making of the movie…
The climax of the movie is very funny. The way Asha and Aman defend their country and yet mock about it, is very comical. We had to shoot this in just one take, so I had to practice a lot for this scene.
How is Action Jackson shapping upIJ
I’m still shooting for the film. It’s an action comedy film that stars Ajay Devgn, Sonakshi Sinha, Manasvi Mamgai and Kunaal Roy Kapur as well. It’s slated for June release.