Key Highlights

  • Prayers: Yami Gautam Dhar sought blessings at Patna Sahib ahead of Nayyi Navelli's release on October 16.
  • Warm welcome: She was greeted with dhol beats and crowds of fans in Patna.
  • Day-one challenge: She revealed she had to perform six dance styles, including a Moonwalk, on the first day of shooting "Bhabhi Tabaahi."
  • The film: A family comedy-fantasy about a bride suspected of being a "daayan" by her brother-in-law.

With less than two weeks to go before Nayyi Navelli hits theatres, Yami Gautam Dhar took her promotions to Patna. The actress visited Patna Sahib, bowing her head in gratitude and seeking blessings for the film's theatrical run.

Patna Sahib holds deep significance in Sikh history. Guru Gobind Singh, the tenth Sikh Guru, was born in Patna in 1666 and spent his early years there before moving to Anandpur Sahib. The city was also visited by Guru Nanak and Guru Tegh Bahadur.

A Dhol-Filled Welcome

Yami arrived in Patna to connect with fans and celebrate the response to the film's promos. She was welcomed with energetic dhol beats as crowds gathered to greet her.

"Just a Bit of Moonwalk!"

Speaking to fans, Yami shared a surprise from her very first day on set. While shooting the song "Bhabhi Tabaahi," she was asked to perform six completely different dance styles, from Bhangra to a full Moonwalk.

She recalled director Balaji Mohan casually telling her to try "whatever you're comfortable with… but just a bit of Moonwalk!" The request caught her off guard on day one, but she said she thoroughly enjoyed the challenge.

The Moonwalk is central to the song's story. In "Bhabhi Tabaahi," Yami's character Mohini answers her suspicious brother-in-law's dare to dance to Western beats with that very move, during the Devar-Bhabhi face-off.

Why It Matters: Promoting Beyond Mumbai

Patna is not a typical first stop for Hindi film promotions, which usually focus on Mumbai and Delhi. Taking Nayyi Navelli to Bihar reflects how studios are increasingly courting audiences in the Hindi heartland, where family entertainers can draw strong footfalls. For a film set in a small-town Meerut household, connecting with audiences in cities like Patna makes natural sense.

About the Film

The trailer shows a new bride whose arrival brings calm to a turbulent household in Meerut, until her brother-in-law becomes convinced that his seemingly perfect sister-in-law is secretly a "daayan." The film is billed as a blend of family comedy and fantasy adventure.

Nayyi Navelli is directed by Tamil filmmaker Balaji Mohan, written by Himanshu Sharma and Divy Nidhi Sharma, and produced by Aanand L. Rai and Himanshu Sharma. It releases on October 16, ahead of Dussehra.

The Bottom Line

From a prayer at Patna Sahib to fan cheers on the streets, Yami's Patna visit signals a promotional push aimed squarely at the film's core audience. With the release just days away, all eyes are on whether Mohini can charm the box office as she charms her new family.

With inputs from IANS.