Yami Gautam takes a supernatural turn as Mohini in Balaji Mohan’s upcoming fantasy entertainer, which arrives in theatres on October 16.
Yami Gautam is stepping into unfamiliar territory with Nayyi Naveli, an upcoming Hindi fantasy entertainer that combines family drama with supernatural elements.
The makers released the film’s official teaser on Thursday and confirmed its October 16, 2026 theatrical release.
Directed by Balaji Mohan, the film places Yami in the role of Mohini, a mysterious new daughter-in-law whose arrival throws an ordinary family in Meerut into chaos.
Yami Gautam Plays a Mysterious ‘Daayan’
The teaser introduces a middle-class household in Meerut where an unexpected accusation becomes the centre of attention.
The youngest son, Bantu, played by Anurag Thakur, arrives with a startling claim: his new sister-in-law Mohini is a Daayan, or witch.
His family members are initially unwilling to believe him.
Bantu, however, attempts to support his unusual theory with what he believes is evidence.
As the teaser progresses, Mohini emerges as an intimidating and commanding presence. Her character appears to possess powers and secrets that go well beyond what the family initially understands.
Her voiceover further raises the mystery by challenging viewers to “Think Big.”
A Fantasy Story With a Family-Comedy Setting
Rather than presenting itself as a conventional horror film, Nayyi Naveli appears to combine supernatural mystery with family entertainment.
The teaser’s promotional language draws attention to the film’s mix of madness, fantasy and mystery, suggesting that the makers are aiming for a genre-blending experience.
The story begins within a recognisable family setting before introducing an extraordinary supernatural conflict.
That contrast between an everyday household and an increasingly bizarre situation forms the central hook of the teaser.
Balaji Mohan Directs Nayyi Naveli
Balaji Mohan is directing Nayyi Naveli.
The filmmaker is known for working across Tamil cinema and digital entertainment, and the Hindi project marks another step into a broader filmmaking space.
The film’s story has been written by Himanshu Sharma, while Divy Nidhi Sharma has handled the screenplay and dialogues.
The creative team has brought together elements of comedy, fantasy and family drama for the project.
Strong Supporting Cast
Yami Gautam and Anurag Thakur lead the teaser, while the film features a sizeable supporting ensemble.
The cast includes:
- Sunita Rajwar
- Suneel Sinha
- Sushmita Mukherjee
- Mita Vashisht
- Addinath Kothare
- Sonal Jha
The ensemble is expected to play an important role in the film’s family-centric storyline.
GV Prakash Handles the Music
The music for Nayyi Naveli has been composed by GV Prakash Kumar.
The film’s technical team also includes cinematographer Rishi Punjabi, production designer Ravi Srivastava and editor Sumeet Kotian.
Vijay A Ganguly serves as choreographer.
Costume design is being handled by Rushi Sharma and Manoshi Nath, while Shipra Singh Acharya is responsible for makeup and prosthetics.
Action direction comes from Mahesh Mathew.
Amazon MGM Studios and Aanand L Rai Back the Film
Nayyi Naveli is presented by Amazon MGM Studios in association with filmmaker Aanand L Rai.
The combination of an established production banner, a genre-driven story and a cast led by Yami Gautam has generated interest ahead of the theatrical release.
The film’s October release also places it in the Dussehra weekend period, traditionally an important window for Hindi theatrical releases.
Yami Gautam Explores a Different Character
For Yami Gautam, Nayyi Naveli represents another change in genre.
The actress has taken on a range of roles in recent years, moving between commercial cinema and more content-oriented projects.
Her recent appearance in the social drama Haq received attention and critical appreciation.
With Nayyi Naveli, she now takes on a character rooted in fantasy and supernatural storytelling.
Mohini’s mysterious nature is likely to be one of the film’s biggest attractions, particularly because the teaser deliberately reveals only limited information about her.
What the Nayyi Naveli Teaser Reveals
The teaser establishes several important elements without revealing the complete story.
It introduces:
- A middle-class family in Meerut
- Bantu’s belief that his sister-in-law is a Daayan
- Mohini’s mysterious and powerful presence
- A blend of family humour and supernatural mystery
- A fantasy-driven conflict at the centre of the story
The film’s central mystery appears to revolve around Mohini and whether Bantu’s extraordinary claims about her are actually true.
Nayyi Naveli Release Date
Nayyi Naveli is scheduled to arrive in cinemas on October 16, 2026.
The release falls during the Dussehra period, giving the film a potentially favourable holiday-season window.
With Yami Gautam in a supernatural role and Balaji Mohan directing, the movie will be looking to attract audiences interested in fantasy, comedy and family entertainment.
Nayyi Naveli: Key Details
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Film | Nayyi Naveli |
| Lead actor | Yami Gautam |
| Character | Mohini |
| Co-star | Anurag Thakur |
| Director | Balaji Mohan |
| Story | Himanshu Sharma |
| Screenplay & dialogues | Divy Nidhi Sharma |
| Music | GV Prakash Kumar |
| Production association | Amazon MGM Studios, Aanand L Rai |
| Genre | Family fantasy entertainer |
| Setting introduced in teaser | Meerut |
| Theatrical release | October 16, 2026 |
Why Nayyi Naveli Could Stand Out
The film’s biggest hook is its unusual combination of a familiar family setting and supernatural fantasy.
Instead of beginning in an isolated haunted location, the story places its mysterious character inside a household, allowing the supernatural conflict to emerge from everyday family dynamics.
Yami Gautam’s transformation into Mohini also gives the project a different flavour from several of her recent performances.
With its Dussehra-weekend release, Nayyi Naveli will now be looking to turn the curiosity generated by its teaser into theatrical interest.
