Yami Gautam Reveals How a Gen Z Helped Her Prep for ‘Bala’

November 8, 2025

Mumbai: Actress Yami Gautam, who is basking in the positive response to her latest film ‘Haq’, revealed that she once sought help from a Gen Z individual to prepare for her role in the 2019 hit ‘Bala’.

Learning TikTok for Her Role in ‘Bala’

Speaking to IANS at a Mumbai hotel during ‘Haq’ promotions, Yami recalled her experience playing a TikTok star in ‘Bala’.

“I played a TikToker in Bala. Forget having an account, I had no idea what TikTok even was! Luckily, one day before the shoot, I asked for help from a Gen Z and said, ‘Please help me.’ That was a completely different world, and I had to adapt myself to it,” she shared.

On Shah Rukh Khan’s Philosophy About Acting

During the conversation, a quote by Shah Rukh Khan—that “to get it right is the most boring thing an actor can do”—was brought up. When asked if she resonated with that philosophy, Yami said,

“It’s very subjective to each film, depending on the character and how your director visualises it. Some roles are natural, while others, like in Bala, require you to step into a completely new world.”

‘Surrender to the Role’

Yami further elaborated on her approach to acting, saying her preparation must be “specific and nuanced.”

“If there’s a mispronunciation of a word, I must decide how correct that mispronunciation should sound—it has to be balanced,” she said, referencing her meticulous process.

She added that with films like ‘Article 370’, the challenge lies in the subtleties:

“You have to allow yourself to perform as freely as possible, not hold back or get conscious. You must surrender to the process and to the role.”