Roshmilla Bhattacharya (MUMBAI MIRROR; March 18, 2014)

Yaami Gautam plays an old-world princess from a Raja Ravi Varma painting in the music video, Aabhi Jaa, featured in AR Rahman’s just-released album Raunaq. The cherry on the musical pie: the song has been penned by Minister of IT & Telecommunications, Kapil Sibal.

 “I’ve always wanted to do a costume drama,” admits the actress, who enjoyed the four-day shoot in Chennai even though the make-up took a little longer than usual. “For a wedding sequence I was transformed into a South Indian bride and when I saw the original painting, I was exhilarated by the thought of being a part of history.”

 Rahman is yet to see her debut film, Vicky Donor, but Yaami’s face, reminiscent of the women Varma liked to paint, convinced him that she was the right choice.

 And working with the Oscar-winning composer was always on the actress’ to-do list. “I’ve loved his music all my life and was amazed at how simple, composed and humble he is.”

 And did he offer to make a singer of her? “No,” she retorts. “But I’m not a bad singer and some day, I’d like to sing for a character I’m playing on screen."