Bollywood and South Indian cinema have long exchanged talent, with actors frequently crossing linguistic and regional boundaries to build pan-Indian careers. But at a time when this movement is stronger than ever, one actor is taking a very different path.
Kani Kusruti, who has earned global recognition in recent years, has revealed that she has been actively asking Hindi filmmakers not to cast her in their projects.
Kani explains her stand
In an interview with Screen, Kani said she has been turning down most Hindi film roles because she does not speak the language fluently. When asked why she is not seen more often in Bollywood, she responded, “Because I don’t speak Hindi. I won’t be able to do all the parts that come to me. I tell them, ‘Please don’t cast me.’ It has to be something like ‘Assi’, because Anubhav very kindly made my character from Kerala. Otherwise, he wanted it to be from some other part of North India, probably Delhi.”
She further explained why learning Hindi for complex roles would be limiting for her, “I told him I can’t even learn the lines. I’d take so much time to even understand them. I don’t think I can learn Hindi that fast. Also, culture and so many other things. I’m a true Malayali in every aspect. I still think in Malayalam. I have to constantly translate when I speak in English.”
Role in ‘Assi’ and broader film career
Kani is currently seen in the courtroom drama ‘Assi’, directed by Anubhav Sinha. She plays Parima, a sexual assault survivor seeking justice in a New Delhi court, with her case taken up by lawyer Raavi, portrayed by Taapsee Pannu.
The film, which also features Revathi, Manoj Pahwa, Kumud Mishra and Mohammed Zeeshan Ayyub, has been praised for its powerful performances, though it has collected just over ₹5 crore so far at the box office.
Theatre-rooted performer with global recognition
A widely respected figure in Malayalam cinema, Kani trained at the Thrissur School of Drama and later at L’École Internationale de Théâtre Jacques Lecoq in Paris. She first gained attention with the 2009 anthology film ‘Kerala Cafe’.
Her standout early roles include a Naxalite in the 2010 thriller ‘Shikkar’ – starring Mohanlal – and a sex worker in ‘Cocktail’, a performance that earned significant acclaim.
Kani later won the Kerala State Film Award for Best Actress for ‘Biryani’, further cementing her reputation as one of Malayalam cinema’s strongest performers.
Her international breakthrough came with ‘All We Imagine As Light’, which premiered to global acclaim. She also earned praise for her role in ‘Girls Will Be Girls’.
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