Triptii Dimri reacts to Animal criticism, calls her character Zoya both ‘brave and innocent at the same time’

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.