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Yami Gautam reacts to being labeled a “nationalist” for her films. The Haq actress says labels keep changing — “Earlier I was called underrated, now something else.”
As she gears up for her next release Haq, Yami Gautam has responded to being labeled a “nationalist” for her film choices.
Actor Yami Gautam, who has built a strong reputation for portraying characters of quiet strength and conviction, is gearing up for her next big release, Haq, co-starring Emraan Hashmi. The film, inspired by the landmark Shah Bano case, delves into themes of justice, identity, and faith — and has already stirred curiosity since its trailer launch in Mumbai on Monday.
At the event, Yami was asked about frequently being labeled a “nationalist” because of the kind of films she has chosen in recent years — socially or politically charged stories that often mirror contemporary India. The actress, however, brushed off the label with grace and humour.
“There’s A Label, I Don’t Even Know What It Is”
“Label hai, mujhe pata bhi nahi hai. I don’t know. Agar hai toh logo ka kaam hai kuch na kuch kehna,” Yami said when asked about being tagged a nationalist. “Ye nahi toh kuch aur label, phir kuch aur, phir kuch aur. Parso kuch aur tha. Pehle kuch underrated label tha. Usse pehle kuch aur tha. It keeps shifting. Main vo sab nahi samajhti hun,” she added.
(“There’s a label, I don’t even know what it is. If there is one, well, people will always have something to say. If not this label, then something else, and then something else again. The other day it was something different. Earlier, I was labeled ‘underrated’. Before that, it was something else. It keeps shifting. I don’t really understand all that.”)
Her remark, delivered with trademark calmness, reflected how she prefers to focus on her craft rather than public perception — a quality that has come to define her career.
“I Go By Instinct — I Don’t Make It More Complicated”
Speaking about how she picks her scripts, Yami explained, “I am a person who goes by my instinct. If it’s a story worth telling, there’s a journey for every character. I believe in that.”
She elaborated that Haq was more than just another courtroom drama for her — it was a story about strength, courage, and moral conviction. “This subject has been in public life. I always think about the kind of strength and courage that a woman like Shazia must have needed. And if I get these opportunities to tell the story of such women, I will. Audience is very important to me. They should like it, they should feel that this story is worth their money. I don’t make it more complicated,” Yami added.
About Haq
Directed by Suparn Verma, Haq is set to release on November 7, 2025. The film reportedly revisits the complex debates surrounding personal law, gender equality, and justice that arose during the Shah Bano case, one of the most discussed legal battles in India’s socio-political history.
With Yami Gautam and Emraan Hashmi sharing the screen for the first time, Haq promises to be a powerful courtroom drama — one that questions not just laws and systems, but also society’s moral compass.
Yatamanyu Narain is a Sub-Editor at News18.com with a passion for all things entertainment. Whether he’s breaking the latest Bollywood news or chatting with rising stars in the OTT world, he’s always on the hun…Read More
Yatamanyu Narain is a Sub-Editor at News18.com with a passion for all things entertainment. Whether he’s breaking the latest Bollywood news or chatting with rising stars in the OTT world, he’s always on the hun… Read More
October 27, 2025, 21:00 IST
