Wamiqa Gabbi: This year will beat 2023 in terms of my delivery

Wamiqa Gabbi. Pic/Instagram; (right) Sunny Kaushal

Wamiqa Gabbi might be in the midst of shooting Atlee's action movie, Baby John, with Varun Dhawan, but her heart beats for romance. So, it's understandable when she says that she can't wait to return to the set of her next, Shiddat 2. "I love romance, and it's important to remind ourselves of the love that exists in the world," she beams.

Another highlight for her has been co-star Sunny Kaushal. The actor says they have been bonding over their Punjabi roots. "We have the same jokes and same playlist. We vibe off camera, and that's important to the story."

The past year turned Gabbi's career around, as she featured in six offerings, including Vikramaditya Motwane's Jubilee and Vishal Bhardwaj's Khufiya. While they catapulted her to bigger projects, she focuses on enjoying her craft. "Acting is my passion. When I started out, I didn't know my reasons. But last year reminded me of the hard work I put in since the first day on a set. The past year was a culmination of many years' hard work. Destiny cannot be controlled. Good things will come when they are meant to. I want to continue working with good people, and I know that this year will beat 2023 in terms of how I deliver."

There is a shift in how the industry perceives her. From being an OTT star, she is now being looked at as a mainstream actor. "The industry looks at me differently and takes me seriously. During our first meeting, Atlee sir opened up about his struggles as a filmmaker. It's good to find people who have the same passion as you do towards the craft."