Chaos erupted at an event in Jaipur on Tuesday when actor Triptii Dimri failed to appear as the chief guest. Enraged attendees smeared her face on a poster with black paint, accusing her of ‘boycotting’ their event after allegedly accepting Rs. 5 lakh.

However, sources indicate that this narrative is misleading. The controversy traces back to the promotional activities for Dimri’s upcoming film Vicky Vidya Ka Voh Wala Video, in which she stars alongside Rajkummar Rao. October 1 was the day marked for the Jaipur promotions.

“Artists are all equally involved in the plan for promotions; once they approve, the production house goes ahead,” a source explained.

Dimri was initially set to walk the runway for Manish Malhotra at a Mumbai event on September 26, but heavy rains forced a re-scheduling to the same date as the Jaipur promotions, which had been planned a month in advance.

Despite efforts to accommodate both commitments, things did not go as planned. Dimri had agreed to participate in three promotional activities in Jaipur, including a FICCI event at noon.

“But her flight got delayed in the morning, and she reached a college half an hour late because of traffic. The second activity also got delayed. She eventually arrived at the FICCI Flo venue very late, and attending that session would have meant missing her return flight to Mumbai,” the source added. 

Given that Manish’s show was backed by the PMO, the circumstances were particularly sensitive. FICCI Flo’s senior team was also contacted and acknowledged that such delays can occur in the entertainment industry.

On Wednesday morning, Dimri’s team issued an official statement: “During the ongoing promotional campaign for her film Vicky Vidya Ka Woh Wala Video, Triptii Dimri fully honored her professional obligations, attending all scheduled events and sessions related to the film. It’s essential to clarify that she did not engage in any personal appearances or events beyond her promotional duties and accepted no additional fees for her participation.”

Interestingly, a video confirming her presence at the FICCI Flo event was posted on Monday on FICCI Flo Jaipur’s Instagram page, adding to the confusion surrounding her absence.

We reached out to FICCI Flo for a comment, but chairperson Raghushree Poddar’s team only stated, “Senior management is trying to control the damage.”

Viral videos captured one attendee addressing the media, stating, “We will file a case against her, and Jaipur should boycott her movies because she has humiliated us today.” Another attendee claimed, “Since 11 o’clock, they have been telling us it will just be five more minutes. Triptii has boycotted FICCI Flo Jaipur after taking Rs. 5 lakhs.”

However, our source raised the question: Why would an actor of Triptii’s stature accept a mere Rs. 5 lakhs for an appearance? “Triptii has not taken any money; the coordinator present in each city for promotions does,” they clarified. This coordinator is responsible for organizing travel, hotel accommodations, and other logistical needs for the actors. “All payments have been settled, and everything is clear,” they added.