Yami Gautam on Dhurandhar cameo: 'Being directed was my fee'
Synopsis
Yami Gautam's answer to Madhuri Dixit on 'Kon Honar Crorepati' was equal parts funny and revealing — she said being directed by Aditya Dhar was her real 'fee,' even as she admitted surprise at learning she had received a large paycheck for her brief but scene-stealing role as an undercover Indian agent in the blockbuster Dhurandhar: The Revenge.
Key Takeaways
Yami Gautam appeared as Shazia Bano , an undercover Indian agent, in a cameo in husband Aditya Dhar 's film Dhurandhar: The Revenge .
On 'Kon Honar Crorepati' , host Madhuri Dixit asked Yami whether she was paid for the role or did it as a favour to Aditya.
Yami said she was 'surprised' to learn she had received a 'big fat check' and called being directed by Aditya her real fee.
Dhurandhar: The Revenge was a major commercial blockbuster, featuring Ranveer Singh , Sanjay Dutt , R.
Madhavan , and Arjun Rampal .
The upcoming episode of 'Kon Honar Crorepati' will also feature actor Aadinath Kothare alongside Yami on the hot seat.
National Award-winning actor Yami Gautam has offered a candid and humorous take on reports that she received a substantial paycheck for her cameo appearance in husband Aditya Dhar's spy thriller Dhurandhar: The Revenge. The revelation came during an upcoming episode of the quiz show 'Kon Honar Crorepati', hosted by Madhuri Dixit, where Yami and actor Aadinath Kothare will be seen occupying the hot seat.
Madhuri's Question and Yami's Response
During the conversation on set, Madhuri Dixit cheekily put Yami on the spot, asking whether she was paid for the cameo or had simply agreed at her husband's insistence. Madhuri said, 'Maine dekhi Dhurandhar. Bahut pasand aayi. Did you get paid for that cameo? Ya husband ne kaha ki, ‘Please babe, kar do na?’'
Yami responded with laughter and characteristic warmth: 'I think kuch cheezon ka mol nahi hai! Aditya said, ‘Please come on my set, pe aajao. I want good luck to be on my set.’ And to be directed by one of the finest directors of India was my fee. Even I was very surprised when I heard the news that I received a big fat check for my cameo. To get directed, I think, by one of the finest directors was my fee.'
Yami's Role in Dhurandhar
In the film, Yami Gautam appeared as Shazia Bano, a nurse who is later revealed to be an undercover Indian intelligence operative working inside Pakistan. The character shared a brief but significant sequence alongside Ranveer Singh's character, Hamza. Despite its brevity, the role added a dramatic twist to the narrative, making it one of the more talked-about moments of the film.
About Dhurandhar: The Revenge
Directed by Aditya Dhar — the filmmaker behind the blockbuster Uri: The Surgical Strike — Dhurandhar: The Revenge went on to become a massive commercial success. The film featured an ensemble cast including Ranveer Singh, Sanjay Dutt, Arjun Rampal, R. Madhavan, and Sara Arjun, among others. The couple's on-screen collaboration, even in a cameo capacity, drew considerable attention from fans and the press alike.
The Broader Picture
Yami and Aditya Dhar married in June 2021 in a private ceremony, and Dhurandhar marks the first time the actor formally appeared in her director-husband's work. Notably, Yami's response underscores a dynamic increasingly common in Bollywood — where star couples collaborate on projects, often navigating the line between professional obligation and personal support. The episode of 'Kon Honar Crorepati' featuring Yami and Aadinath Kothare is set to air soon on the show's broadcast schedule.
Point of View
But the more interesting story is what it signals about star-director couples in Bollywood: the lines between professional project and personal loyalty are blurring, and the press — and audiences — are fascinated by that ambiguity. The 'big fat check' detail, which reportedly surprised even Yami, suggests a formal production arrangement rather than a casual favour, giving Dhurandhar's producers a marketing moment they could not have scripted better. Whether Yami's cameo drove ticket sales is debatable; that it is still generating headlines well after release is not.
NationPress
16 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What was Yami Gautam's role in Dhurandhar: The Revenge?
Yami Gautam played Shazia Bano, a nurse who turns out to be an undercover Indian intelligence operative working in Pakistan. The cameo was a brief but significant sequence alongside Ranveer Singh's character Hamza.
Did Yami Gautam get paid for her Dhurandhar cameo?
According to Yami herself, she was surprised to learn she had received a 'big fat check' for the cameo. However, she said that being directed by Aditya Dhar — whom she called 'one of the finest directors of India' — was her real fee.
Where did Yami Gautam talk about the Dhurandhar cameo?
Yami discussed the cameo during an upcoming episode of the Marathi quiz show 'Kon Honar Crorepati', hosted by Madhuri Dixit. She appeared on the show alongside actor Aadinath Kothare.
Who directed Dhurandhar: The Revenge and who else starred in it?
Dhurandhar: The Revenge was directed by Aditya Dhar, known for Uri: The Surgical Strike. The film starred Ranveer Singh, Sanjay Dutt, Arjun Rampal, R. Madhavan, and Sara Arjun, among others, and went on to become a major blockbuster.
When did Yami Gautam and Aditya Dhar get married?
Yami Gautam and Aditya Dhar married in June 2021 in a private ceremony. Dhurandhar: The Revenge is the first film in which Yami has appeared under her husband's direction.
