Exclusive: Triptii Dimri on upcoming films, family and gaining popularity

October 26, 202414 Mins Read

What has changed post the success of Animal?

A lot of things opened up for me post Animal. Before Animal, yes, I was getting a lot of work. It’s not like I was out of work. But I think in the commercial zone, people started recognizing me post Animal. And I got a lot of, literally a lot of offers the day the film released. I’m glad that people liked whatever I did in Animal. The kind of response I got from the fans, the people and the industry, it was just overwhelming. And I was honestly not expecting a response like this. I thought, okay, it’ll come and go because I’m just there for like 15 odd minutes. But the kind of response I got was just too overwhelming. It took me three months to digest the fact that things are changing now. And things are moving at a faster pace. Because earlier, yes, I was working, but it was going at a slow pace. Post Animal, I would say the pace increased. I was, you know, at it doing one film after another. So that ways it has been really, really good. And another thing that changed was that a lot of people who had not seen my other work like Bulbbul, Qala, they watched Animal. And they maybe after watching Animal, went back to watch my films, which was a great feeling, because I always wanted more and more people to watch those films, because I’ve put in my heart and soul into those ones. And that happened with Animal. So it was a great, great feeling.

Do people around you change after a box-office success? Do the conversations change?

I mean, the conversations in terms of work, yes, they’ve been, as I told you, very, very different. But personally, I feel I’ve just been very, very busy. I mean, earlier, there was a lot of time to sit back and think and do other things. I would paint and, you know, play tennis and do other things. But these days, there’s no time to do that. I also feel that there’s more chaos now. But I’m always trying to find time for myself, because I think that is something that keeps me sane and keeps me in touch with myself. And I think as an actor, that is very, very important. But to find the time for that has become difficult. So yeah, that is the fight that’s going on these days.

You’re surrounded by several people and chaos for a huge part of your day, if given an option to change something today, which would be a part of your life for next few years, what would you pick?

I think I would want to bring in some balance in life. And I’m always trying to, you know, create balance between my personal life and professional life because I feel life is much more than just work. There’s a lot to life. And I think that is where I’m struggling currently. I want to make sure that, you know, I give time to myself, to my family, because that is also very, very important. My parents are getting old and I feel bad when I miss the festivals, when I miss someone’s wedding. So yeah, right now the aim is to find the balance because I love what I do. I love acting and I would not leave it for anybody or anything. So yeah, the struggle is to find the balance. But I think with time, I will be able to strike that balance.

What was the most fun part about shooting Vicky Vidya Ka Woh Wala Video?

I think a lot of things. The fact that I was getting to work with an actor like Rajkummar Rao, or if you see the entire cast, Archana Puran Singh, Vijay Raj and more. I’ve always wanted to work with such actors. And you know, I got an opportunity to work with them through this film. They are like masters of comedy. So I thought, okay, there’ll be so much for me to learn. And they wanted to create the 90s backdrop. So even the first look test, when we created that look, the director said, I want to give you like Madhuri Dixit hair, you know, that soft blowout with the puff and everything. And even the bindis that they used to put, the snake bindi, the long one. I’ve seen my mother used to put those bindis when we were kids. And then they disappeared, that trend disappeared. And with this film, we’ve tried to kind of bring that trend back in. The costumes, if you see, they are fully 90s. Even the dance steps that we’ve done in the film, they made sure to get, you know, they briefed the choreographers, that we want the steps to be from the 90s. The dipping and the sharmana and everything. So, a lot of it was fun because every day there was something to learn. Every day we were like, wow, this is so interesting. Usually you don’t get to do it in films, because when you’re doing modern day film, you are living in this era, which you anyways experience in life. To relive those days was another feeling.

How was it working with Rajkummar Rao? Were you ever intimidated by his brilliance? Did you ever feel like you couldn’t pull it off?

I think every day, because comedy is a very difficult genre. And to crack comedy you have to be completely honest to whatever you’re doing in the moment. But every day on set, I would feel intimidated. I would feel like, how am I going to pull it off? Firstly, you’re acting opposite Rajkummar Rao, who aces every scene that he does. You’ve seen how good his comic timing is. And he’s so thorough with his lines, like he would remember my lines, everybody’s lines. And I think there’s so much to learn from an actor like him, because even the scenes where he was not supposed to be there, just, you know, his cues, he would stand, no matter what. He would be like, and there were times where people would say, Sir, you’re not in the frame. And he would say that I’m there in the scene, right? What do you mean I’m not in the frame? So these little, little things that I’ve picked up from him, and I think it’s really, really important for every actor to be this way, to be this secure, to be this confident in their own craft, that they don’t feel like every scene, I have to look good, or every scene, you know, I’m going to kill this scene or whatever. They make sure that your performance is also good. And there were days where I was scared and nervous, and I could not, you know, perform well. He would come to me and he would be like, he’ll try and give me some confidence. Pump me up. And he would sometimes give me some formulas that, why don’t you try it this way? So that my performance looks good and the scene works in total. So, I think it’s really, really important to have such co-actors. And I’m really blessed that he was there in the film, because without him, I don’t think I would have done what I’ve done in the film.

You’re a leading lady in Bollywood, what’s it like to be an leading actor in today’s time?

Oh wow! Good question. It is fun, yeah. I didn’t know that I would be an actor. But since the day I fell in love with acting, I’ve always wanted to be in this position where I get to choose projects, where I get to work with the directors that I want to work with. I had made a list of directors that I once wanted to work with. Every actor has that list. I’m really, really happy when I look at that list today. I’m ticking off the list and I’m like, wow, this is almost unreal.

Yeah, every day when I wake up and I have 10 things to do, there are times when I’m like exhausted. And feel like I need a break. I need one day to just sit and relax. And then I’m like, no, there were days where I have sat on this particular corner and prayed for days like this. But I don’t have time to breathe also. And then when I have such days, I should not complain or crib. So yeah, it feels wonderful. I mean, it feels amazing. The only aim is that I don’t want to get too attached to anything. I think that is something you’re always, always trying to fight because I know for sure that fame comes and then it goes and then it comes again and then it goes again. So you can’t be too attached to it. I know it’s a long journey for me. And I just want to enjoy the journey. I just want to have fun with it and not take anything on myself too seriously. Because if I do that, then there’s no end. There’s no end to it. And yeah, I want a happy life. And I think that I can only achieve if I’m sane and if I’m not taking myself too seriously.

How excited are you for Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3?

I never thought even in my wildest dreams that I would be a part of a film like Bhool Bhulaiya 3. And when I got the part, I was jumping with joy. I always wanted to do a horror comedy. And when you watch those films, you only wonder, how does it feel on set? And then to be there to experience everything that Manjulika is doing, it was just a very surreal experience. Again, Anees Bazmee (director of the film) is amazing. That man has some energy. We would get tired the whole day shooting. But that man, from morning to evening, we’ve done shifts where we’ve shot for 18 hours, but he would just not take a break. He’s just at it. And when you have mentors like that, then, you just feel pumped up to do more, to give your 200 percent. And of course Vidya Balan ma’am was there. Kartik Aaryan was there. It was just, a wonderful set of people, a very positive set. I can’t wait for people to watch that also. I’m sure it’s a franchise that has always been, getting a lot of love. And we are now expecting the same kind of love for Bhool Bhulaiya 3.

What’s your take on method dressing, do you feel it works to promote a film better?

I think, yeah, I mean, it does work because you want to stay in the zone of the film. You don’t want to disconnect from the film and you don’t want the audiences to disconnect from the film. I think that is the aim, especially with promotions. Otherwise in life, I feel like as soon as you’re in your costume, you’re back in your character. That I think works for most of the actors. So, that is why for promotions also, we thought we’ll, you know, continue the same zone because I wanted to be Vidya for a while. Because, you know, when you’re on set and people call you Vidya, Vidya, Vidya, Vidya for a month or two, you get too attached to that name. And suddenly one day when someone calls you Tripti, you’re like, what? That’s not my name. You can call me Vidya.

You’ve been flattered with the title of being the National Crush. What is your take on it?

I am grateful to everybody who thinks I am the National Crush. It always feels good. I mean, when you get love in any form from people, it feels good. I think it’s a beautiful emotion. When people love you and when people praise you for your work or anything, you feel good as an artist. You feel motivated. So I think this is something that keeps me motivated. Helps me, make sure that I put in the work. I put in the effort to do a good job every time. But don’t you wake up and just be like, oh, I’m the national crush. And throw a tantrum by saying I’m not going to do that. And I’m not going to do this. I want to take it the other way. Because the title is yours today. Tomorrow it’s going to be somebody else’s. You can’t be too attached to anything. But, it makes me feel very happy. Very proud. It’s a wonderful feeling.

How have your parents reacted to your stardom?

They’re very happy, very proud. I remember when I started off, they were very scared. Because I was going to be living in a city where we didn’t have relatives. So we didn’t know anybody. And joining the industry where nobody knew anything. And that time they were like, if there’s anything not working out, you come back. And I’m glad they didn’t ask me to come back again. Because that time when I had no work, I would have gone back. But I didn’t. I’m glad. Now I see my parents, whenever I go to Delhi to meet them and relatives are there, they’re always playing my interviews on TV, which is very embarrassing for me in that moment. But then it’s clear that they’re proud and they’re very happy. It makes me feel good also as it’s every child’s dream to make their parents proud. They feel happy even when they’re here in Bombay.

Do you feel that their life has changed after your stardom?

I don’t think so. I think they are very simple people. Even if it changed, they wouldn’t take it seriously. They don’t take me seriously at times. They’re like, we have to keep you grounded. You have to remember where you’ve come from and never treat people badly. Never think that you’ve become something and then you start misbehaving with anyone. That’s the first thing that they told me. They said, you’re a star for others, but you’re always going to be our daughter. Yes, they get a lot of attention from people. But that doesn’t, make a difference to them. And that’s what I love about them. That even today when I go home, they’ll make me cook that meal. They’ll make me do those things and I want it that way. Because I don’t want that to change. The day that changes, then I think I’ll lose a part of myself, which I never want.

What motivated you to hold on and not leave Mumbai when things were not working in your favour?

I think there was no fear at that time. Even today, I won’t say that I’m fearful of anything. But that time there was zero fear in me. I wanted to do something different. I attended this acting workshop, which made me fall in love with acting. And after that, I was like, now there’s no looking back. This is something that I love. For the longest, I was trying to find something to do in my life. But it was not happening. And after that class, I said, now I have found my love and I want to continue going in this direction. I think that it’s that love that kept me going. I remember I was going for one audition someday and I had failed. I got a call from some relative, which I’ve spoken about in many interviews and some taunts they had given my parents and my parents were scared and they called me that day and they were like, come back because we can’t take it. I remember I was in Juhu beach with a friend of mine and I was crying and I was like, I’m not going to leave the city like this. I’m going to make a name for myself. Then if by choice, I want to leave, I’ll leave. But not like this. I never met that relative again. And everything else is history.