Kani Kusruti’s screen work moves between the difficult Malayalam feature Biriyaani, the playful science-fiction comedy OK Computer and the political drama Maharani. The Malayali actor has described how those roles tested different parts of her craft—and why she wants more comedy, especially physical comedy and slapstick.
From theatre training to Malayalam film
Kusruti is a Kerala-born actor whose work spans theatre, Malayalam cinema and Hindi-language series. Scroll’s 2021 profile noted that she had appeared in Malayalam feature productions from Kerala Cafe (2009). Indulge Express reported in 2020 that she studied at L’École Internationale de Théâtre Jacques Lecoq, a background that helps explain her interest in physical performance.
In a 2021 interview with Scroll, Kusruti said practice helps an actor control craft and remain diverse. At that point, she described language as a practical constraint: she had turned down some Hindi roles because she did not speak the language. She also discussed learning Hindi and Marathi dialogue for Counterfeit Kunkoo. For Maharani, language nuance became part of shaping a character from South India speaking Hindi.
Biriyaani: a demanding role and a complicated response
Why Khadeeja mattered as a part
In Sajin Baabu’s Malayalam film Biriyaani, Kusruti played Khadeeja. She described the role to Scroll as an opportunity to play a character with a beginning, middle and end. The film’s reception and awards later brought her greater visibility: in a 2024 interview with The New Indian Express, she said it created more opportunities and that people began taking her more seriously.
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Her reservations about the film
That career impact did not mean she embraced every aspect of the film. In the 2021 Scroll interview, she acknowledged political and aesthetic disagreements with it. In 2024, she told The New Indian Express that she had worried audiences might interpret Islam negatively. She also said Baabu described his intention as opposing patriarchy, while explaining that she was unhappy with aspects of the character and the circumstances around the film’s release. Her comments point to a tension between the role’s importance to her career and her reservations about its framing; they should not be reduced to either unqualified endorsement or repudiation.
OK Computer: Monalisa and the appeal of comedy
In the Hindi science-fiction comedy series OK Computer, Kusruti played Monalisa Paul, a Malayali police constable. She has called Monalisa her favourite character so far and described the part as a turning point in her internal journey as an actor. In the same 2024 interview, she said she likes comedy but rarely gets offered it.
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Comedy is not just a genre she would like to try more often; it connects to her training. Kusruti told Scroll, “I would really love to do more comedy. Physical theatre is what I am trained in, so I really want to do more physical acting, slapstick. That’s where I feel comfortable, it’s my space.” The whimsical series gave her a role that aligned with that stated interest in play and physicality.
Maharani: a political aide working across languages
In Maharani, Kusruti played Kaveri, an aide to Huma Qureshi’s chief minister character. Unlike Monalisa’s comic world, Kaveri belongs to a political drama, and the performance involved working in Hindi as a character with a southern background. Kusruti discussed the Hindi-language challenge in her 2021 Scroll interview; the character’s background informed how that language was used. The role is a clear example of her moving between language contexts as well as between genres.
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Three roles, three different demands
| Work | Format and genre | Kusruti’s role | What she has said about it |
|---|---|---|---|
| Biriyaani | Malayalam feature film | Khadeeja | The role offered a character with a beginning, middle and end; the film’s reception increased her visibility, alongside her reservations about aspects of the film and its framing. |
| OK Computer | Hindi science-fiction comedy series | Monalisa Paul, a Malayali police constable | Her favourite character so far and a turning point in her internal journey as an actor; comedy and physical performance fit interests she has described. |
| Maharani | Hindi political drama series | Kaveri, an aide to the chief minister | A role that involved performing in Hindi as a character from South India. |
Where to watch
Availability can change by date and country. Scroll’s March 2021 review listed OK Computer as streaming on Disney+ Hotstar, and its May 2021 review associated Maharani with SonyLIV. Those are historical references, not confirmation of current catalogues or regional access; check the services directly for present availability.
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