How did Triptii Dimri become the ‘national crush’, replacing Rashmika Mandanna? Animal’s marketing head opens up

However, the film’s marketing head Varun Gupta recently emphasised that Triptii Dimri’s rise to becoming a “national crush”, replacing her Animal co-star Rashmika Mandanna, was unexpected and not part of any preconceived plan. “I would laugh if someone would say, ‘Triptii Dimri becoming the national crush for a cameo role was predicted.’ It’s just that the way the director presented her in the film met with success,” he said during a chat with Zoom.

“I feel it is the pre-teaser that sets the tone of the film. Just pre-teaser had action, then the trailer had just bits and pieces of action. So it gave a lot of benefit to the campaign more than anything else. A lot of credit also goes to the final trailer that we released. The strategy was to release it just 10 days before the film’s release which again very few films do,” he observed regarding the movie’s marketing strategy.

When the movie faced massive criticism, Triptii Dimri defended Animal by saying, “If certain things don’t suit you, don’t watch them.” Describing her character Zoya as “perfect the way she is”, Dimri told The Quint, “I see her as a very honest and sincere person, and I wouldn’t want to change a single thing about her.” Asked about the shoe scene, and whether it could influence minds, she said, “It depends on person to person. If you’re watching an action film, and the goons are beating up the hero, that doesn’t mean you go and beat up whoever you hate in life. Or, if someone is talking rudely to his wife or girlfriend, that doesn’t give you the license to go home and start talking the same way to your wife, or girlfriend, or whoever.”

“There are people who do get affected, and they’re not wrong in saying what they’re saying. It’s their point of view, and they’re allowed to have an opinion. But it’s also a choice. If certain things don’t suit you, don’t watch them,” the actor added.