Following a banner year that saw her gain mainstream recognition with the blockbuster Animal, actor Triptii Dimri faced a mixed reception for her subsequent releases in 2024. While films like Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3 and Vicky Vidya Ka Woh Wala Video performed well at the box office, critics and audiences felt her performances didn’t live up to her established potential from films like Bulbbul and Qala. Now, her acting coach and frequent co-star, Saurabh Sachdeva, has weighed in on the criticism.
In an interview with Hindustan Times, Sachdeva, who has been an acting coach for two decades, praised his students’ achievements, including Dimri’s. He emphasized that the actor did not lose her touch, but rather, the issue was a matter of her choices.
“Ache ache players bhi zero par out hote hain (The best of players get out on zero), but you know that they will come back,” Sachdeva said, using a cricket analogy to explain that an actor’s low point doesn’t define their talent. He drew a parallel to a great actor like Irrfan Khan, who may not always deliver a stellar performance but whose underlying talent remains. “Sometimes, the choice of the subject is not right, sometimes films don’t work. What matters is that people recognise that the performer is good.”
Addressing the criticism of his student directly, Sachdeva stated, “I think with Triptii, her choices didn’t work well. But she is wonderful. She looks good on camera, works hard, is vulnerable and sensitive, and is nice to work with.” He highlighted that her professionalism and hard work never changed, but the pressure and external influences on an actor can lead to difficult choices.
Sachdeva, who worked with Dimri in both Animal and her recent critically acclaimed film Dhadak 2, explained the pressures actors face. “There is so much pressure on an actor. They have to make a name for themselves, have to look at money, and have to do better than the last one. Then there is PR and the manager, who all have their own advice,” he said.
Dimri has seemingly bounced back with her performance in Dhadak 2, where she stars alongside Siddhant Chaturvedi. Both actors have received praise for their work in the film, which is a spiritual sequel to the 2018 film of the same name and a remake of the acclaimed Tamil film Pariyerum Perumal. The film is currently running in theaters.
Sachdeva, who runs his own acting school, The Actor’s Truth, after a long tenure at Barry John’s acting school, concluded by expressing his pride in his students’ success, noting that their unique talent is what ultimately drives their careers. “I just helped them along the way,” he humbly stated.