The actress steps into a quirky new world of family chaos, fantasy and supernatural mystery with Balaji Mohan’s upcoming film.
Yami Gautam Dhar is all set to surprise audiences with a completely different avatar in her upcoming film Nayyi Navelli. The first poster introduces Yami as Mohini, a newlywed bride who appears to be the perfect traditional bahu, but there is clearly something unusual hiding behind that picture-perfect appearance.
Set against the backdrop of a chaotic Meerut household, Nayyi Navelli combines family drama, humour, fantasy and supernatural elements. Mohini enters the Awasthi family and seemingly brings peace and order into their lives. However, the story takes a mysterious turn when suspicions begin to emerge around her identity, with the family wondering if their seemingly perfect new bahu could actually be something far more supernatural.
Talking about what attracted her to the role, Yami explained that Mohini gave her the opportunity to explore several shades as an actor. “What drew me to Mohini is that she is never quite what you expect. There’s a warmth and familiarity to her, but also a mystery that slowly reveals itself. Nayyi Navelli gave me the opportunity to explore a character that moves seamlessly between family, humour, emotion, fantasy and action, while still staying rooted at heart,” she said.
Directed by Balaji Mohan, the film has been written by Himanshu Sharma and Divy Nidhi Sharma, while Aanand L Rai and Himanshu Sharma have produced it. The ensemble cast includes Addinath M Kothare, Sunita Rajwar, Mita Vashisht, Aaditya Kulshreshth, Sushmita Mukherjee and others. Music for the film has been composed by G V Prakash Kumar.
For Yami, Nayyi Navelli adds yet another interesting chapter to an already diverse filmography. She made her Hindi film debut with Vicky Donor in 2012 and went on to explore very different characters in films such as Badlapur, Kaabil, Uri: The Surgical Strike, Bala, A Thursday, Dasvi, Lost, OMG 2, Article 370, Dhoom Dhaam and Haq.
From playing a romantic Bengali girl in Vicky Donor to an intelligence officer in Uri, a comic character in Bala, a teacher in A Thursday and a determined officer in Article 370, Yami has consistently moved between genres rather than sticking to one screen image.
Now, with Mohini, she appears ready to explore a mix of innocence, mystery, humour and fantasy.
Nayyi Navelli is scheduled to hit cinemas on October 16, 2026, arriving as a Dussehra release. With its unusual premise and Yami at the centre of the mystery, the film brings a supernatural twist to the familiar Indian family setup.
