A social media “like” is often dismissed as a blink-and-miss moment, but for actors constantly under a microscope, even an accidental tap can spark a full-blown narrative. That is exactly what played out this week after online users noticed Yami Gautam’s account had liked a reel that took a swipe at Kriti Sanon following her Best Actress win at the Zee Cine Awards 2026.
As the clip began circulating with screenshots and commentary, the conversation quickly moved from fan wars to questions about professional solidarity in Bollywood. By March 6, 2026, Yami had had enough of the chatter and chose to respond directly.
Yami Gautam’s Clarification On X
Taking to X (formerly Twitter), Yami addressed the controversy and said the engagement was not deliberate. “It has come to my notice that I apparently ‘liked’ a reel that is condescending toward another actor. We get tagged in multiple things every day, and this appeared during an award function reference like any other tag. It isn’t true and was definitely not done consciously; if anything, it may have been clicked accidentally,” she wrote.
She also firmly pushed back against suggestions that she was trying to ride the moment for publicity. “Never in my life have I resorted to cheap PR tactics. I have always focused on my work and moved on. In the world of clickbait, it’s tempting for even dignified social media portals to harp on this and turn it into coffee-table gossip. But I would hope they would consider that I have earned a better reputation than that,” she added.
Yami further stated that she does not operate with a publicity machine behind her. “I have no PR team, have respectfully cleared my stance on entertainment award shows long ago, and remain focused on my work,” she concluded.
The reel in question was edited around Kriti’s Zee Cine Awards moment and ended with the question “Is it fair?”, framing the win as debatable. The online chatter gained momentum as some users argued that Yami’s performance in Haq merited the trophy instead, while others defended Kriti’s win for Tere Ishk Mein.
Yami Gautam’s Recent And Upcoming Work
Over the last few years, Yami has quietly built a strong OTT and theatrical run, anchored by performance-led choices. Her notable releases in the past 48 months include the hostage thriller A Thursday (2022), the heist drama Chor Nikal Ke Bhaga (2023, Netflix), and the rom-com action caper Dhoom Dhaam (2025, Netflix) opposite Pratik Gandhi. In theatres, she was seen in Haq (2025) alongside Emraan Hashmi.
On the horizon, Yami is also linked to Dhurandhar 2, directed by Aditya Dhar, with the film slated for a March 2026 theatrical release.
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