Actor Kani Kusruti, who stars in two of this year's most acclaimed movies All We Imagine As Light and Girls Will Be Girls, says she has had a more professional work experience up north than in her native state Kerala.
Kani has been straddling both Malayalam and Hindi language industries for some time now. She was named the best actress at the Kerala State Film Awards for the 2020 film Biriyaani. In the Hindi belt, the actor is known for her work in Hindi web series Maharani and Poacher.
While the state honour brought her respect, Kani said recognition should not come to an artiste only after they win awards.
"When I won the Kerala state award in 2020 that had an impact... Kerala still is struggling with having proper contracts and a working culture of professionalism. We still lack a lot in these areas,” she told PTI in an interview.
"Winning that award has given me a certain kind of respect, but that should be given otherwise too to any artist. You don't have to win an award to get your basic human right or basic right as an artist," she added.
The actor, also known for Malayalam films Kerala Café and Cocktail and Hindi web series Ok Computer and Killer Soup, said she always had an "extremely professional experience" in Mumbai.
"I was treated right, like they're treating mostly everyone equally at least compared to the Malayalam industry. I felt here they are more professional in how they approach you. So, that's the difference I noticed back then," she added.
While work opportunities across various industries frequently come up, Kani said she isn't someone who likes to work continuously.
"I ideally want to take a break, that's how I am. I'm like, 'I have to take a break and then I have to go do a workshop and then maybe I can (act),” she said.
"But sometimes you don't have the privilege. This is your bread and butter and you have to continue practising. But ideally for me, one or two films in two years, then I take a break and then do it (work). That's how I like it," she added.
In Girls Will Be Girls, directed by Shuchi Talati, Kani plays Anila, a woman whose unfulfilled coming-of-age experience is interlinked with the rebellious awakening of her 16-year-old daughter Mira, played by Preeti Panigrahi.
The Hindi film, set against the backdrop of the 1990s Dehradun, is streaming on Prime Video. It also stars Kesav Binoy Kiron and Jitin Gulati.
It's a privilege to be an actor, added Kani.
"Even the people that you don't understand in life, you get to understand them (through acting). How they think, what is right and wrong, do they have regrets, do they have guilt, how they love, emote and think. You can be in someone's body and mind, that's a privilege when you play people who you already know, so that kind of surprise is less," she said.
The actor said she initially had a tough time understanding her character.
"I was struggling to understand this person because I haven't come across such a mother. Then I talked to Shuchi. I felt she is a great director, she was open minded. "She paid attention to all my doubts and questions, for some she had answers, for some she and I discovered the answers while we were talking,” she added.