‘Yes, I Did Feel Uncomfortable’

‘Four
days
before
the
shoot,
I
cut
down
my
water
intake
to
just
one
litre
per
day,
eliminated
salt
and
carbs,
and
focused
solely
on
protein.’
‘By
the
time
we
shot
the
scene,
I
was
just
waiting
for
it
to
be
over,
so
I
could
finally
drink
water
again!’

Yami
Gautam
says
she’s
“not
docile”
in
real
life,
and
enjoys
playing
her
feisty
character
in

Dhoom
Dhaam.

Her
co-star
in
the
thriller,

Pratik
Gandhi,
plays
her
polar
opposite.
He’s
timid
and
non-confrontational
but
when
put
to
the
test,
stands
up
for
his
partner.

He
also
strips
at
a
strip
club,
when
the
need
arises!

“The
entire
film
unfolds
in
a
single
night,
and
we
shot
for
45
nights
straight.
That
part
was
more
of
a
nightmare,”
Pratik
tells

Subhash
K
Jha.

Dhoom
Dhaam
is
a
fun
watch.
Was
it
just
as
fun
to
shoot?

It
was
absolute
madness.

The
kind
of
bizarre
situations
the
newlywed
couple,
played
by
Yami
Gautam
and
I,
find
themselves
in
over
the
course
of
one
night
is
something
I
could
never
have
imagined.

The
entire
film
unfolds
in
a
single
night,
and
we
shot
for
45
nights
straight.

That
part
was
more
of
a
nightmare.

What
was
your
first
reaction
to
the
script?

My
initial
reaction
was
that
it’s
a
fun,
entertaining
ride,
but
what
intrigued
me
most
was
that
the
protagonist
isn’t
the
typical
alpha
male
hero.
That
was
a
key
factor
in
my
decision
to
take
on
the
role
and
shape
it
in
a
way
that
felt
authentic
and
relatable.

We
often
come
across
people
in
real
life
who
prefer
to
avoid
conflicts,
steer
clear
of
fights
and
de-escalate
situations
rather
than
confront
them
head-on.

To
me,
they
are
the
true
heroes
in
their
own
way.

Is
that
how
you
played
your
character
Veer?

I
envisioned
my
character
within
that
perspective
—
someone
who
consciously
avoids
aggression
yet
becomes
a
pillar
of
support
and
a
safety
net
for
his
partner.

I
always
read
a
script
but
I
also
look
forward
to
the
narration
because
that’s
where
you
truly
understand
the
director’s
vision.

The
words
a
director
uses
beyond
the
written
script
reveal
a
lot
about
how
they
visualise
a
scene.

In
a
situational
comedy,
even
though
everything
is
on
paper,
the
approach
to
a
particular
moment
can
be
executed
in
multiple
ways.

As
a
team,
we
fine-tuned
those
nuances
before
each
shot,
ensuring
it
aligned
with
the
film’s
tone.

Yami
Gautam
and
you
are
in
almost
every
frame
together.
How
was
she
as
a
partner-in-crime?

Yami
is
incredibly
secure
and
professional
when
it
comes
to
her
craft.

She
possesses
a
unique
ability
to
objectively
analyse
her
role
and
performance,
even
while
being
fully
immersed
in
a
scene.

This
awareness
allows
for
an
immediate
sense
of
whether
the
comedic
beats
are
landing,
the
jokes
are
eliciting
the
right
reactions,
and
whether
the
audience
will
grasp
the
intended
nuances.

We
worked
closely
on
most
scenes,
fine-tuning
our
performances
and
reactions
to
ensure
seamless
storytelling.

Yes,
we
share
nearly
every
frame,
sometimes
even
bound
together
by
handcuffs!
In
that
sense,
we
were
connected
both
literally
and
figuratively
throughout
the
film.

How
much
preparation
went
into
that
strip
act?

The
scene
comes
at
a
pivotal
moment
when
Koyal
(Yami
Gautam)
has
a
revelation
about
Veer.

It
subtly
highlights
how
society
tends
to
judge
at
face
value
rather
than
waiting
to
discover
a
person’s
true
self.

Physically,
I’ve
always
been
lean
but
never
particularly
defined.

I
was
given
a
specific
brief
for
this
scene,
so
I
followed
a
strict
three-month
regime,
high
protein
intake
and
rigorous
workouts.

Four
days
before
the
shoot,
I
cut
down
my
water
intake
to
just
one
litre
per
day,
eliminated
salt
and
carbs,
and
focused
solely
on
protein.
By
the
time
we
shot
the
scene,
I
was
just
waiting
for
it
to
be
over,
so
I
could
finally
drink
water
again!

It
felt
like
I
hadn’t
had
a
proper
sip
in
days.

Our
films
often
objectify
women.
How
did
it
feel
having
the
tables
turned?

Why
should
it
feel
odd?

We
never
questioned
it
when
women
were
objectified,
it
was
just
accepted.

But
when
I
had
to
do
it,
yes,
I
did
feel
uncomfortable,
which
only
made
me
realise
how
women
must
feel
in
such
situations.

You
seem
at
ease
in
both
serious
and
comic
roles.
Which
do
you
enjoy
more?

For
me,
it
all
starts
with
the
script.
If
it
excites
me,
I’m
in.

Then,
I
look
at
the
director
because
his
vision
shapes
everything.

The
thrill
of
acting
is
that
you
can
become
anyone.
It’s
liberating!

That
ease
comes
with
experience,
especially
from
the
stage,
where
you
learn
to
mold
yourself
into
a
character.
The
greater
the
variety
of
roles,
the
more
fun
it
is
to
bring
them
to
life.

From
a
strip
club
in

Dhoom
Dham
to
satyagraha
in
a
new
Gandhi
bio-series.
Quite
a
shift,
don’t
you
think?

Oh,
absolutely!
It’s
been
quite
the
journey.

And
along
the
way,
I’m
making
a
pit
stop
as
an
educator
in

Phule!