Yami Gautam: I was very Skinny, was called Weak and Tiny; Narrates her Teenage Struggles

Yami Gautam delivered an impressive performance in the recent comedy-drama titled Bala, co-starring Ayushmann Khurrana and Bhumi Pednekar. Directed by Amar Kaushik, the film focuses on self-acceptance and also raises questions on the already set standards of beauty. 

The story of Bala revolves around the struggles of a young man dealing with premature balding, Apart from Ayushmann, Yami plays a model and a brand ambassador of fairness cream in the film. While discussing the realms of the film, Yami goes on to narrate the struggles she faced when she was a teenager.

Yami reveals she was called out for her physical appearance as a child and was called weak because she was very skinny. 

During my growing-up days, I was very skinny and everyone would tell me I was weak because I was tiny. Being a Punjabi from Chandigarh, I was surrounded by girls who were wide-structured and, in comparison, I would look weak. I ate everything to gain weight but I didn’t realize my body structure was narrow. Once my mother noticed such a thing was upsetting me, she said, ‘never ever think that you are weak just because you are skinny. You are a strong girl. One day, you will see how strong and beautiful you are.

- Yami told IANS

She states that her mother helped her to cope up with the comment passed at her and always advised her to keep going.

The Vicky Donor actress further reveals that besides body shaming, she had stage fright and narrates an incident tracing back from her school days.  

I remember I had to recite a poem in school. I went in prepared but when I was on stage in front of a room full of audience, I froze. I was nervous and God knows how I just uttered those lines and ran away. That was me as a grown-up child. So, yes, I had to work hard to overcome such a thing, because as an actor I am supposed to be free, I should not have inhibitions. Most of the feedback I have received (for “Bala”) is that I was very uninhibited.

- Yami shares

Meanwhile, Bala released last week and has been receiving a good response from the audience for delivering a good message through the film.