Yami Gautam on why celebs don’t voice opinions on public matters

Actress Yami Gautam, who made her Bollywood debut in Shoojit Sircar’s romantic comedy Vicky Donor, recently celebrated a decade in Hindi cinema. She’s currently seen in A Thursday which released on an OTT platform last week. In the film, Yami plays a playschool teacher who takes 16 toddlers as hostages.

The Behzad Khambata directorial, A Thursday, addresses violence against women. When asked why she hasn’t been vocal about such issues despite picking a movie based on a topic like this, here’s what Yami Gautam had to say.

The actress, who’s busy promoting her recently-released film, told Navbharat times, “There is reason behind this. Often the talk of an actor or a public figure has been presented in twists and turns. We are human too. Wherever there is a need to speak, I will speak. I will raise my voice on any subject according to my knowledge and need. You are from the media, you know someone speaks something, people understand something and then ask the third person what is the matter.”

Yami said that when this happens, the meaning of the matter changes and this is why stars do not voice their opinions on public matters. “We have seen many times how meaning becomes meaningless,” she added.

The Uri: The Surgurical Strike actress also said that it is important for celebrities to have complete information before talking about such topics and expressing their views. Yami said that everyone has a medium to express their views and for her it is her craft. “I have films and that is the only medium through which I can express my views. If my words are not reaching you through my films, then what will be the other way. This is the only medium I have.”

She concluded by saying that if democracy gives you the freedom to speak your mind, it also gives you the right to reserve your opinion.