Actress Kani Kusruti quit acting for a while in Malayalam due to sexual demands made by filmmakers. The actress was speaking alongside a film screening, curated by the WCC at the Cabral Yard as part of Kochi Muziri's Biennale recently.
“I always wanted to be an artiste in the cinema industry. But once I came in, I realised that I wouldn't be able to make it. There were lots of adjustments needed to be done and lot of restrictions were imposed for being a female actor. I found it hard to survive hence decided to drop the idea of becoming an actress," she said.
Kani also claimed that filmmakers even approached her mom to convince her to give in to their demands. “Many even came to my mom telling that her daughter should make adjustments if she wants to be the part of the project,” she said.
Although Kani chose to go back to theatre, she couldn't earn enough in that industry to make a living. And now, she is hopeful that after the #MeToo Movement and initiatives like the WCC or Women in Cinema Collective, things would change in the Malayalam movie industry.
Kani has acted in a few Malayalam films including 'Oru Indian Pranayakadha', 'Natholi Oru Cheriya Meenalla', 'Cocktail' and 'Shikkar'. She had recently worked in Shaji N Karun's movie 'Olu'.
