Malayali actor Kani Kusruti on her Hindi debut in Assi: “It becomes more about remembering than acting” : Bollywood News

It is good to see you in a Hindi film. Is the language the reason for your rare appearances in Hindi cinema?
Yes, absolutely. I don’t really speak Hindi, so that is definitely a limitation. My lack of fluency restricts the kind of characters I can play in Hindi cinema. Most of the roles I’ve been offered are usually of someone from the South or from Kerala, so that my accent makes sense. Even then, it’s difficult because I don’t know the language well enough. I have to constantly learn my lines and think about them while performing. That makes it hard for me to truly inhabit the character. Most of the time, I feel I’m not able to perform fully in Hindi because I’m so focused on getting the lines right. It becomes more about remembering than acting.

Malayali actor Kani Kusruti on her Hindi debut in Assi: “It becomes more about remembering than acting”

Malayali actor Kani Kusruti on her Hindi debut in Assi: “It becomes more about remembering than acting”In Assi, you play a rape survivor. Was it deeply traumatizing to step into such a character?
I don’t think playing a rape survivor can ever be compared to actually being one. That is the fundamental difference between fiction and real life. As a woman living in this country, you are almost always exposed to some form of violence, either directly or indirectly. Most of us, at some point in our lives, have experienced assault in some way. So when you approach a character like this, it can be emotionally heavy. It may give you a glimpse into what someone might go through, but I can never compare acting to the real enormity of such an experience. Even though I’ve personally gone through different kinds of assault in my own life, no amount of fiction can replicate that reality. Acting in such a role can be challenging, but it doesn’t come close to what an actual survivor endures.

What was the experience of working with Anubhav Sinha and Taapsee Pannu?
Working with Anubhav Sinha was wonderful. He is like a child in the best way — curious and eager to learn. He was genuinely trying to understand the subject and approach it with sensitivity. I think all of us are constantly learning about why such crimes happen, what society can do to prevent them, and how to respond when they do occur.

And Taapsee?
This was my first time working with Taapsee. We didn’t have too many scenes together, but I observed her a lot on set. She is extremely professional, very focused, and clear about her process. I really admired the way she framed her questions to Anubhav Sir — and how they would engage in thoughtful debates.

Are there filmmakers and actors you admire in Hindi cinema?
Yes, many. Among filmmakers, I really admire Sriram Raghavan, Dibakar Banerjee, Sudeep Sharma, Anand Gandhi, Gurvinder Singh, and Amit Dutta. These are storytellers whose work I deeply respect.

Among actors, I absolutely love Tabu. I also admire Radhika Apte, Tillotama Shome, Alia Bhatt, Manoj Bajpayee, Rajshri Deshpande, Jaideep Ahlawat, and Vijay Varma. These are the names that immediately come to mind, though there are many more.

Your impressive work in Malayalam cinema has travelled far beyond Kerala. Do you enjoy the reputation of being a “serious” actor?
I’m not sure what a “serious actor” really means. As a person, I’m not very serious at all. But do I take my work seriously? Yes, I do — and I think most actors do. There are so many brilliant actors around me, and I admire all of them.

How do you see your journey as an actor so far?
To be honest, acting was never my passion. I just happened to become an actor. I think I’m an average actor — maybe even below average. If I’ve ever performed well, it’s only because of hard work. And whenever I haven’t performed well, it’s because I didn’t put in enough effort — and then my average talent shows.

I’m simply grateful for everything that has happened so far. My journey has been unexpected, and I feel lucky to still be here.

Also Read: Kani Kusruti is surprised at the global acclaim of All We Imagine As Light; says, “I am also discovering it while it’s happening”