Yami Gautam, who tied the knot with filmmaker Aditya Dhar in an intimate ceremony in Himachal Pradesh on June 4, 2021, embraced motherhood in 2024 with the birth of their son, Vedavid. In a recent conversation, the actress spoke candidly about navigating work after becoming a mother, dealing with guilt, and the emotional shift she experienced after bringing her baby home.
'She told me, ‘Don’t feel that guilt'
Opening up about balancing work and motherhood, Yami addressed the often-discussed guilt working mothers feel. “Guilt is not just a word, it’s an emotion. It’s a very hard-to-ignore emotion,” she told Humans of Bombay, adding that her own mother stepped in with reassuring clarity at the right time.
Recalling her mother’s advice, Yami shared, “She told me, ‘Don’t feel that guilt. I’m here as your mother and I’ll always support you. If working makes you happy, you’ve worked all your life to reach here. You’re not being selfish.’”
Her mother also reminded her that motherhood does not mean giving up on one’s dreams. “That is life, that’s God’s way of rewarding you. Your child is a blessing from God,” Yami said.
Shooting while pregnant and returning to work
Yami revealed that she was pregnant while shooting Article 370, which made her anxious initially. “I was expecting when I was shooting Article 370, so you can imagine how nervous I must have been,” she said. However, her mother encouraged her to continue working as long as she was medically fit.
She also spoke about resuming work when her son was nine months old. “I could work because my mother was there. No matter how many helping hands you have, you need someone of your own, someone your heart trusts,” she said, adding that having her mother around gave her emotional safety.
‘There is no harm in asking for help’
Sharing a practical example from a shoot in difficult locations, Yami explained how she adjusted her schedule to be with her child. “There was only one weekly off and one operational flight. After pack-up, I would take that flight, spend one day with my baby, and take the early morning flight back straight to the set,” she recalled.
She stressed the importance of support systems, saying, “Whether you’re a working mother or a stay-at-home mom, respect to all mothers. There is no harm in asking for help. As a family, everyone must try to support the mother.”
At the same time, Yami acknowledged professional responsibility. “If you choose to work in an industry where the stakes are so high, you also need to do justice to that work. It’s your choice, and if you make it, you must give it your 100 percent,” she said.
‘Who I was before is completely different from who I am now’
Describing the emotional shift she felt after becoming a mother, Yami said the change was instant and profound. “I still remember the first time I came home from the hospital. Everything was the same, but I felt that whoever I was before this moment is completely different from who I am now,” she shared.
Calling motherhood life-altering, she added, “That emotion is so powerful, it changes you forever, and I think it changes you for the good.”
‘It’s the most beautiful feeling in the world’
Yami described the sense of empowerment she feels as a mother. “You look at your baby and think, ‘My God, this is mine.’ You feel so strong,” she said.
She concluded by reflecting on unconditional love. “You realise how selfless love can be. Some days, I don’t want to do anything. I just want to sit there, look at my child, and keep playing. It’s the most beautiful feeling in the world.”Get the latest entertainment updates from the Times of India, along with the
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