Entertainment Desk:

“Animal” might have catapulted Bollywood actor Triptii Dimri to mainstream popularity, but it is in films like “Dhadak 2” that she feels at ease. Through the story of two lovers, portrayed by Siddhant Chaturvedi and Dimri, Shazia Iqbal’s directorial venture takes a hard look at casteism prevalent in the country. In a way, it is along the lines of Dimri’s early movies “Bulbbul” (2020) and “Qala” (2022) — each a piece of art that also has a social message. Does she find it hard to strike a balance between these and mainstream films, especially since she hails from a non-industry background?

“You have to not think about it too much because then you will take away from the story,” she starts. “There is always a reason behind saying yes to a project. Most of the time the reason is not that the film will have a good box-office run, or that it will get a lot of eyeballs. It is because the character excites you. As outsiders, you don’t get opportunities again and again. Today we have this film, tomorrow we’ll have another, but after that, you have to work hard for the next because if you go wrong twice with your films, you are gone. That is the reality. So, you have to have full faith in the story and your characters, and keep the peripheral noise out of the window.”

What made her say yes to “Dhadak 2” was her character and the film’s messaging. Working with Iqbal turned out to be the cherry on the top. “For me, she is Vidhi [her character]. She is not afraid to speak her truth. There is so much to learn from her because she makes you feel empowered,” says Dimri. The actor believes that knowing Iqbal has changed her perspective. “I have been an introvert. I have seen and faced things, and not raised my voice against them. For 30 years of my life, I have kept quiet about so many things. I never had the guts to tell people that it’s wrong. I told Shazia that I want to be like Vidhi; that by the end of this film, I should have the courage to speak my truth without being scared of anyone or the outcome. Now, I do stand up for the right things. This film made me open up a lot more,” she shares.

In her kitty, Triptii Dimri has highly anticipated films, including Vishal Bhardwaj’s next with Shahid Kapoor, and Sandeep Reddy Vanga’s “Spirit” opposite Prabhas. Working with Bhardwaj has been “life-changing”. She says, “There are movies that push you to grow. This has been one such experience that helped me re-mould myself.”