Actress Kani Kusruti speaks about portraying a rape survivor and fight for justice in Anubhav Sinha’s Assi, revealing how she approaches emotionally demanding roles, adapts to different directorial styles, and consciously detaches from her characters once the camera stops rolling. IBNS-TWF correspondent Souvik Ghosh brings excerpts of his conversation with the actor who plays a pivotal role - a school teacher who becomes the victim of a brutal abduction and gang rape inside a moving car - anchoring the film’s emotional and moral core. What made you choose Assi - survivor’s role or working with Anubhav Sinha? For me, it’s never just the role or the director - the story is the driving force. The most important thing is what the story is trying to convey. That said, I haven’t always been fortunate enough to choose films purely on the basis of story. There have been occasions when I chose a project because the role was interesting or because of the director, even if the story didn’t resonate deeply with me. But ideally, it is always the story that guides my decision. I watched Anubhav Sinha’s Article 15 and Thappad. While I may have had a slightly different opinion about certain aspects of Article 15, I appreciated how he attempts to present important subjects within a commercial format.

 

That made me curious about what he had in store for me. How did you get into your character’s headspace - by absorbing the full story or focusing just on her? I usually begin by understanding the character directly, but to grasp the pulse of the story, I also like to explore the associated aspects. As an actor, I am always curious to understand what is happening in the narrative. My approach evolves depending on the director. Not every director’s style coincides with mine. I consider myself more of a director’s actor - I try to perform the part the way the director envisions it, rather than imposing my own interpretation. How emotionally taxing was it to play a survivor - and to let her go? I don’t function in a way where I remain soaked in a character. Once we pack up, I disconnect - I take a shower and go to sleep. I simply look forward to the next day. Thankfully, I have the ability to detach immediately when needed.I come from theatre, where we often perform the same play multiple times over years - sometimes even playing two characters within one production.

 

You learn to disconnect while still being fully present in performance. That training has helped me immensely. You once said you’re hardworking, not talented - what did you mean? I believe talent is something one is born with - it’s the natural range an individual possesses. Hard work, on the other hand, helps you maximise that range and perform at your best. I don’t think I was born with an inherent calling for acting. If I had been, I would have felt drawn to it in childhood. I enjoyed watching performances but never felt the urge to act. In fact, I began truly enjoying acting almost ten years after I started working. So when I perform well, I attribute it to hard work. If I don’t, it simply means I haven’t worked hard enough - because I can be lazy too.