At the trailer launch of her upcoming film Haq, actress Yami Gautam Dhar addressed the ongoing chatter about being labeled as the “face of nationalist cinema.” Calm and composed as ever, the actress chose honesty over defensiveness offering a perspective that reflects both clarity and conviction.
In Haq, Yami steps into the powerful role of Shazia Bano, a woman who takes her husband Abbas to court after he abandons her and their children — igniting a national debate around faith, women’s rights, and justice. The film promises to be one of her most intense performances yet, and when asked about her reputation for choosing strong, politically charged roles, Yami responded with disarming humility.
“You all give these labels,” she said with a smile. “I don’t even know if there is one. If there is, that’s fine — people will always say something or the other. If not this, tomorrow it’ll be something else. Earlier I was called underrated, before that something else. It keeps shifting. I don’t understand these things.”
Instead, Yami said she chooses to focus on the stories she tells and the impact they can create. “I believe that the opportunities I get to tell these stories — they have their own identity, their own importance, and a need to be told. If we only wanted to document reality, we could have made a documentary. But we are in the business of entertainment, where every kind of audience exists — from Tier 1 cities to Tier 3 towns. The effort is always to connect as many people as possible through something fresh and meaningful.”
She further added that she respects the diversity of audience perspectives, saying,“If you watch a film and you like it, that means it’s a good film. And if it sparks some other thought in your mind, that’s okay too, it just means you’re a different kind of audience, and I respect that.”
With Haq, Yami once again takes on a subject that’s deeply rooted in social and moral questions the balance between belief and equality, and the resilience of a woman who demands justice.
The film, directed by Suparn S. Verma, also stars Emraan Hashmi and marks the debut of Vartika Singh. Produced by Junglee Pictures, Insomnia Films, and Baweja Studios, Haq is slated to release in theatres on November 7, 2025.