Kani Kusruti, a talented Indian actress and model, initially gained widespread recognition in 2009 with her critically acclaimed performance in the film Kerala Cafe.
Born in Trivandrum, Kerala, Kani is the daughter of social activist and rationalist parents, Jayasree AK and Maitreya Maitreyan, who had chosen to drop their last names to transcend the social hierarchy marker commonly associated with surnames in India.
At the tender age of 15, Kani invented her last name "Kusruti", which translates to "mischievous" in Malayalam, in response to a requirement in her class 10th exam application.
Growing up in Thiruvanthapuram, Kani was introduced to the Abhinaya Theatre Research Centre, a platform that brought together theatre practitioners from various backgrounds.
Later, she relocated to Thrissur, where she enrolled in the theatre arts program at the Thrissur Drama School between 2005 and 2007.
Kani went on to complete her theatre education at the prestigious L'École Internationale de Théâtre Jacques Lecoq, where she spent two years studying physical theatre under the guidance of renowned experts in the field.
