Nayyi Navelli Releases Today: Jacqueline Fernandez’s Surprise Cameo Steals the Spotlight in Yami Gautam’s Horror Comedy
Yami Gautam Dhar’s horror comedy Nayyi Navelli has arrived in cinemas today, October 16 — and audiences walking in are in for an unexpected treat, as Jacqueline Fernandez makes a surprise special appearance in the film.
The cameo, kept tightly under wraps until release day, sees Jacqueline appear for a few minutes during a crucial and hilarious sequence. Though her screen time is limited, trade reports describe the appearance as entertaining and woven into a key stretch of the narrative rather than functioning as a mere promotional distraction. It is already emerging as one of the most talked-about details of the film as word of mouth begins to build.
Interestingly, Nayyi Navelli marks the second time Yami Gautam Dhar and Jacqueline Fernandez have shared screen space. Their earlier outing was Bhoot Police (2021) — which, like Nayyi Navelli, was also a horror comedy, and also starred Saif Ali Khan, Arjun Kapoor and Jaaved Jaaferi. This time, however, Jacqueline is not part of the principal ensemble, which makes her appearance feel more like a discovery for the audience.
Directed by Balaji Mohan, Nayyi Navelli tells the story of a mysterious woman, Mohini (Yami), who marries into a joint family in Meerut. Trouble begins when her husband’s younger brother becomes convinced that she is a ‘daayan’ — a witch. The supporting cast includes Addinath M Kothare, Anurag Thakur and Sunita Rajwar. The film is produced by Aanand L Rai and Himanshu Sharma under their banner Colour Yellow and presented by Amazon MGM Studios, with the story written by Himanshu Sharma and the screenplay by Divy Nidhi Sharma.
The release carries extra weight for Yami, who recently won the National Film Award for Best Actress for her performance in Article 370. Ahead of the release, she was seen seeking blessings at Ayodhya’s Ram Mandir, a visit that drew considerable attention.
On the business front, the film has shown encouraging pre-release momentum. Trade trackers report total advance collections of around Rs 4.42 crore, with Day 1 advances at roughly Rs 1.51 crore — moving past the single-day pre-sales benchmark of OMG 2 (Rs 3.30 crore), though that comparison needs context since the latter figure was for the opening day alone while Nayyi Navelli‘s total covers six show dates. The National Capital Region has emerged as the film’s strongest market.
Early reviews, meanwhile, are mixed. One early review rated the film 2 stars, calling it a “mythological mess” with a promising central idea and a spirited Yami Gautam performance that deserved a more disciplined screenplay. Whether the Jacqueline surprise and festive Dussehra-weekend footfalls can lift the film beyond that reception will become clear over the coming days.
Source: Bollywood Hungama, Box Office Worldwide, Glamsham (box-office figures are trade estimates).
