Assi Trailer: The trailer of filmmaker Anubhav Sinha’s upcoming film Assi was released on Wednesday and has already sparked strong reactions online. Known for socially driven films like Mulk and Thappad, Sinha reunites with Taapsee Pannu for the third time, tackling a brutal rape case. While Taapsee’s performance stands out as expected, it is actress Kani Kusruti, who plays the rape survivor, that has quietly left a deep impact.
Who Is Kani Kusruti?
In Assi, Kani Kusruti plays a rape survivor whose trauma and silence form the emotional core of the story. Without dramatic dialogue or exaggerated expressions, her performance in the trailer feels raw, restrained and deeply unsettling. Kani Kusruti was born in Cheruvakkal, a small village in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala. Now 40 years old, she has been working in the Indian film industry for nearly two decades.
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Kani first gained wider recognition with the 2009 Malayalam anthology film Kerala Cafe, which featured multiple short stories by different filmmakers. Over the years, she appeared in several Malayalam films such as Shikkar, Cocktail, and Ok Computer. One of the most defining moments of Kani Kusruti’s career came with the 2020 film Biriyaani. The role earned her multiple awards, including the Kerala State Film Award for Best Actress, firmly establishing her as one of the most respected performers in regional cinema.
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In 2024, Kani featured in All We Imagine as Light, a film that travelled extensively across international film festivals. The movie won several awards and was also nominated for Best Foreign Language Film at the Golden Globe Awards, bringing global attention to its cast. In the same year, she appeared in Girls Will Be Girls, produced by Richa Chadha and Ali Fazal, which was released on Amazon Prime Video. The project further expanded her presence on OTT platforms.
Also Read: Assi Trailer: Taapsee Pannu Leads As Lawyer In Upcoming Hard-Hitting Social Drama | WATCH
Assi Cast And Release Date
Apart from Taapsee Pannu and Kani Kusruti, Assi boasts a strong ensemble cast including Revathy, Manoj Pahwa, Kumud Mishra, Mohammed Zeeshan Ayyub, Naseeruddin Shah, Supriya Pathak, and Seema Pahwa. The film is scheduled to release in theatres on February 20, 2026.