‘Animal’ Catapults Triptii Dimri To National Crush-Status; She Reveals On Set Secrets

If anyone has benefited the most from Sandeep Vanga Reddy's Animal, it is certainly Triptii Dimri. The film has catapulted the Bulbbul actor to instant stardom. Her Instagram following skyrocketed by over a million, and she was hailed as the national crush.

"The love and appreciation I've received from people has exceeded my wildest expectations," she says. "This is something that excites and motivates me as an actor."

Triptii plays Zoya, the antagonist and Ranbir Kapoor's Ranvijay's so-called love interest. The film has crossed over 500 crores at the box office and been declared a blockbuster. Many have criticized the film's premise, calling it overtly violent and glorifying toxic masculinity. While Triptii was one of the film's best-kept secrets, she was aware of her limited screen time. Director Sandeep Vanga Reddy convinced her of its impact.

"He instructed me that we wanted Zoya to be honest and show her love for Ranbir's character through her eyes. At no point should the audience perceive her as negative. I also try not to judge. The day you start judging your character and story, you won't be able to be completely honest about it. I'm glad everyone connected with Zoya and understood her motivations."

However, a 30-second clip of her and Ranbir Kapoor's characters sharing an intimate moment quickly became the talk of the town.

Triptii admits she was surprised by the extreme reactions but was told that it comes with the territory.

"I was told that the day you become an actor, you are opening yourself up to the world and inviting people's opinions. They will have something to say, and it's up to you how you take it. While 20% of the people shamed me, I chose to focus on the other 80% who offered love and support. They need to understand that I am an actor, and this was acting for me. I needed to be honest to the film and the character. My director only proceeded after seeking my permission and ensuring I was comfortable with the scene."

She further reveals that the set was sanitized during filming the specific scene, with only herself, Ranbir, the director, and the director of photography present.

Given her scorching chemistry with Ranbir Kapoor, she candidly confesses to being a bag of nerves on the first day of the shoot. "I had always wanted to work with Ranbir. He saw I was nervous and made me feel very comfortable. He also noticed my nervousness and encouraged me to express whatever I was feeling." She adds, "He is someone who asks a lot of questions. His curiosity is endearing and motivating."

While people hail Triptii as a National Crush, the one who has been wearing the crown is Rashmika Mandanna. Though the two actors had minimal screen time together, Triptii has nothing but praise for her co-star.

"She's the sweetest person on set. She made me feel welcomed, and there was no awkwardness, which can sometimes happen when there are two female leads in a film. She was brilliant and, realizing I was awkward, made me feel at home."

The makers have announced a sequel to Animal, titled Animal Park, which will likely see Triptii essaying the lead role. The actor simply smiles and says, "Let's wait and watch."

Five films old, Triptii Dimri made her debut in Laila Majnu in 2018. The film had no takers, and the actor herself admitted to visiting theaters several times to buy just one ticket. It was Anvita Dutt's Bulbbul and Qala that got her noticed. Revealing that she was even out of work for nearly two years, she has learned to keep her balance in the hypercompetitive industry.

"There wasn't much noise about me as an actor before. Now that there is, I haven't felt the difference. My goal is to maintain that balance because I don't want to lose myself in all of it."

Triptii will next be seen with Rajkummar Rao in Vicky Aur Vidya Ka Woh Wala Video and Mere Mehboob Mere Sanam with Vicky Kaushal.