Bollywood actress Triptii Dimri has been making waves in the industry with her remarkable performances in films like Laila Majnu and Bulbbul. Her latest role as Zoya in the much-anticipated film Animal has drawn significant attention and, inevitably, its fair share of criticism. Animal, a highly awaited action-thriller directed by Sandeep Reddy Vanga and starring Ranbir Kapoor, Anil Kapoor, and Rashmika Mandanna, hit the screens with massive fanfare. However, as with many films of such high expectations, Animal has faced both praise and criticism from various quarters, particularly regarding the portrayal of its characters. Triptii Dimri, in her candid reaction to the criticism surrounding her character Zoya, described her role as both “brave and innocent at the same time.” She elaborated on the complexities of Zoya’s character arc, defending the choices made by both herself and the director in shaping Zoya. In a detailed response, Dimri addressed how Zoya’s persona, as depicted in the film, is multi-dimensional and goes beyond a superficial understanding, urging viewers to look deeper into the character’s emotional core and motivations. In this article, we’ll explore Triptii Dimri’s reaction to the criticism, her perspective on Zoya’s character, and how this film reflects the broader challenges faced by actresses in Bollywood who take on unconventional roles. Animal is a gritty and dark exploration of family dynamics, masculinity, and violence. At its core, the film revolves around the complex relationships within a family marred by power struggles and emotional turmoil. Ranbir Kapoor’s character, a central figure in the film, navigates the violent, hyper-masculine world of organized crime, while Triptii Dimri’s Zoya represents an emotional counterpoint to this chaos. Zoya’s character in Animal is intricately woven into the film’s central theme of love, vulnerability, and innocence, set against a backdrop of brutality and violence. As the love interest of Ranbir Kapoor’s character, Zoya is portrayed as a woman who is deeply compassionate yet courageous, facing harsh realities with both strength and vulnerability. While some have praised the nuanced layers in Zoya’s character, others have found fault in the way she was written or portrayed, accusing the filmmakers of not giving her enough depth or agency in a film dominated by its male characters. Triptii Dimri, in a recent interview, responded to the critiques leveled against her character with poise and clarity. She acknowledged that Animal, as a film, may not resonate equally with all viewers, and that Zoya’s character could be interpreted in various ways depending on the lens through which one views her. However, she was quick to defend Zoya as a character who embodies both bravery and innocence in a complex environment. “Zoya is brave and innocent at the same time,” Dimri said. “She represents the kind of woman who finds herself in the middle of chaos but refuses to let that chaos define her. She’s someone who holds on to her principles, her love, and her sense of self even when the world around her is crumbling.”
Triptii Dimri reacts to Animal criticism, calls her character Zoya both ‘brave and innocent at the same time’
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Dimri further explained that Zoya’s apparent innocence is not a weakness but rather a strength. In a world dominated by toxic masculinity and violent power dynamics, Zoya’s ability to remain compassionate and emotionally available is, in itself, an act of bravery. Dimri emphasized that the character’s innocence does not imply naivety; instead, it reflects a conscious choice to retain one’s humanity in an inhumane world. A large part of the criticism surrounding Zoya’s character stems from the common trope in Bollywood where female characters, especially love interests, are often sidelined in favor of the male protagonist’s journey. In Animal, Ranbir Kapoor’s character is at the center of a violent, emotionally charged narrative, and the primary arc revolves around his complex relationship with his father, played by Anil Kapoor. Naturally, many critics and viewers felt that Zoya’s role, as Ranbir’s love interest, was reduced to a secondary plotline, leaving her character underdeveloped and overshadowed by the male leads. Triptii Dimri, however, offered a different perspective on this critique. She noted that while Animal is undeniably a film about male relationships and hyper-masculinity, Zoya’s character serves as an emotional anchor amidst this turmoil. “Zoya brings in a sense of balance. She’s not just there as a love interest; she’s the moral compass for the protagonist, reminding him of the values he’s slowly losing touch with,” Dimri explained. In defending her character, Dimri made it clear that Zoya’s role, though not at the forefront of the action, was pivotal to the emotional trajectory of the film. She believes that Zoya’s presence softens the harshness of the narrative and introduces a perspective of emotional honesty, which is often lacking in films that center on violence and male-dominated power dynamics. Dimri’s defense of Zoya opens up a broader discussion about the portrayal of women in Bollywood, especially in films that revolve around male-dominated themes like crime, violence, and familial power struggles. Over the years, Bollywood has been criticized for offering female actors limited roles, often reducing them to love interests or supporting characters in films that are primarily driven by male protagonists. In response to this, Dimri has called for a more nuanced understanding of female characters, even in male-centric films. She pointed out that while it is important to push for more strong, independent female roles in Bollywood, not every character needs to fit into the mold of a traditional “strong woman” archetype to be meaningful or valuable to the narrative. “Women in films can be strong in different ways,” she said. “Innocence, vulnerability, and emotional depth are strengths too. Zoya may not be fighting battles with guns or fists, but she’s fighting emotional battles, and those are just as important.” Dimri also touched upon the importance of creating space for different kinds of female representation in Indian cinema. According to her, not every female character needs to be loud, rebellious, or defiant to be considered empowered. In fact, Zoya’s quiet resilience and her ability to love and forgive amidst the chaos are her greatest strengths.
