Wamiqa Gabbi: Atlee sir’s trust in me has boosted my self-belief

After a string of OTT successes, Wamiqa Gabbi says fronting Jawan director’s next is a conscious step to become a commercially viable star

You know you’ve cracked Bollywood when the maker of this year’s biggest blockbuster casts you in his next. Wamiqa Gabbi is in the enviable position of being a part of Atlee’s next Hindi production, led by Varun Dhawan. The yet-untitled film is the remake of Atlee’s Tamil hit, Theri (2016), and will be helmed by his former assistant director Kalees. Gabbi is naturally elated that the Jawan director showed faith in her. “I feel lucky and excited to be able to explore opportunities across mediums. For Atlee sir, who just gave the industry the [year’s] biggest hit, to trust me with his next is huge! I am overwhelmed. His trust in me has boosted my self-belief. I hope to do action in the film,” says the actor, as she looks forward to the film rolling this month.

The big Bollywood action fare is Gabbi’s first step towards mainstream Hindi cinema. In a way, it’s natural progression for the actor who has struck gold this year with her OTT offerings—beginning with Vikramaditya Motwane’s Jubilee, and following it up with Vishal Bhardwaj’s Charlie Chopra & The Mystery of Solang Valley, and Khufiya. A fine balance between commerce and creative satisfaction, she says, is the key to be the artiste that she aspires to be. “Medium is a producer’s lookout. As an actor, I will still work on my character, go to the set and perform. I understand one thing: if I want to do my kind of work, I need to have that [draw]. Otherwise, people will say, ‘We can’t put money on her.’ So, I am making these choices. But even while doing so, I am cautious and not in a hurry. In the name of mainstream cinema, I don’t want to do projects that I won’t enjoy.”

Rising popularity has clearly brought more opportunities. On the flipside, it has also brought people’s opinions on how she should shape her career. But Gabbi, like many artistes, is guided by her heart. “Many people tell me how to go about my career, and I do listen to them. But when it comes to making choices, I see whether a project touches my heart or not. I have said no to so many projects that people said would be good for my career.”

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