Yami Gautam on Mohini in Nayyi Navelli: October 16
Yami Gautam discusses playing Mohini in Nayyi Navelli, a fantasy family entertainer releasing in theatres on October 16 ahead of Dussehra.
After a National Award-winning turn in Article 370, Yami Gautam is moving into the fantasy space with Nayyi Navelli. She plays Mohini, a woman whose warmth is the first thing you notice and whose unpredictability keeps everyone guessing. The family entertainer opens in theatres on October 16, just ahead of Dussehra. The choice marks a lighter turn after a performance that earned her critical acclaim.
Mohini’s two sides
Yami said the part pulled her in because it asks an actor to hold several shades at once. Mohini can feel like someone you have grown up around, but she also carries an edge that makes her hard to read. ‘There’s a certain mystery and mischief to her,’ Yami said, adding that Mohini’s unpredictability was exactly what she loved.
The challenge, she explained, was balance. A character this broad could easily tip into one note, so the real job was keeping her warmth and her unpredictability in the same frame without losing either.
A director’s clear map
Yami credited director Balaji Mohan with solving that puzzle. She said he had a clear sense of who Mohini was and how she belonged in the film’s magical world, which helped her navigate the role’s shifting tones. For an actor stepping into fantasy after more grounded stories, that clarity mattered.
Styling the magic
Mohini’s look was designed to keep her believable. The costumes, traditional jewellery, hairstyle and everyday styling were all chosen to reflect her personality, not just the visual spectacle around her. Yami wanted viewers to feel they might already know this woman, even when the story around her turns fantastical.
The approach gives Nayyi Navelli a simple character pitch:
- Warmth: Mohini feels like someone from your own family.
- Mischief: Her unpredictable streak keeps scenes alive.
- Grounding: Her everyday look keeps the fantasy relatable.
An October 16 family bet
Nayyi Navelli brings together humour, action, emotion and magic. It is produced by Aanand L Rai and Himanshu Sharma under the Colour Yellow banner in association with Amazon MGM Studios, written by Himanshu Sharma and Divy Nidhi Sharma, and directed by Balaji Mohan.
The release date matters. October 16 lands just before Dussehra, a window when families often plan a big-screen outing. A film that mixes fantasy with family entertainment and a recognisable lead can appeal across ages, and Yami’s Mohini is positioned as the anchor of that promise.
For Yami, the part also signals range. After a serious, award-winning performance, she is choosing lightness, magic and ensemble energy, which could introduce her to a wider family audience during a prime festival frame. It is a move that keeps her filmography varied and gives the release an accessible, celebratory hook.
Source: bollywoodHungama.com
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