Every now and then a talent so subtly captivating that it stays in the hearts of viewers long after the credits have rolled appears in the kaleidoscope world of Tollywood films. Sushmitha Ravi, better known as Kushee Ravi, is one such name that has been causing a stir in the Telugu and Kannada film industry. A native of Bangalore, she arrived with a disarming simplicity rather than a deafening fanfare.

Her voice carried the same quiet simplicity, effortlessly felt even through the distance of a telephone line. Dia, a critically acclaimed film, was her big break! It became a turning point in both her career and Kannada filmmaking. She has now established herself as a name to watch out for, making appearances in Telugu and Kannada movies regularly. The latest addition to her filmography is Ayyana Mane, now streaming on Zee5. But The Great Story of Sodabuddi marked her cinematic debut.

She has been experimenting with various roles and genres ever since. She tried her hand at horror with Spooky College, which got mixed reviews! She had a thrilling debut in Telugu cinema in 2023 with Pindam, for which she received accolades for her powerful performance. Oh, and who could forget those accolades—she bagged the Best Actress (Critics) – Kannada and also took home the Best Actress award from the Chandanavana Film Critics Academy! Kushee Ravi joins us now for an exclusive conversation you won’t want to miss.

Which emotional facets do you prefer to delve into when landing a new role?
I still find that most of my character’s journeys have been enlightening about the type of person I am in real life. Each character eventually inspires a fresh optimism that you can identify with on a deep level. However, what’s a little more lovely about our Southern films is that we also have some traditions that we display on screen, which in some ways makes the film a little more interesting to watch. I have the strength to play the part as soon as my character piques my interest even a little. I have to summon fear, revolt, or intense emotion at different moments. The life of an actor is like that! But I prefer to depict emotions in a subtle way; none of them are displayed on screen too loudly. The characters’ clarity and empathy come next.

How do others’ stories help you bring authenticity set in the past?
For those who are unaware, I was born in 1996. Therefore, anytime I work on films from before that time period, I make an effort to learn as much as I can from my relatives. I’ve always been able to further mould my character thanks to their experiences! The director’s position therefore becomes relevant when he confirms the comparable experiences. On the sets, there are occasionally occasions when I don’t react precisely as the director had hoped, but I’ve been thankful for it since they quickly correct me. The feelings that an actor must express aloud are probably the most fascinating aspect of portraying any character. For instance, I can instantly depict the sense of dread if I have to! But to depict terror within? I’ll need to react more subtly so as not to lose myself in the process. Even though I don’t have to have my mum speaking in many of the parts I’ve played, my silence received a lot of praise from critics!

In contrast, how can you use other local textures that are nearby to inhibit characters?
I’m originally a Bengaluru girl. However, my folks are somewhat familiar with Mysuru culture. In fact, Mysuru was the sole previous name for Karnataka! There are many stories from my grandparents’ time spent here that they used to share. I also have several Mangaluru friends who are spiritual and all that and I was really interested in their experiences. And I thought, I’ll absolutely utilise them as a point of reference in my future work. Naturally, I am unable to portray the entire culture, but I can always highlight the most important points and display a little portion of it on film. As a South Indian, I can attest that our rituals are constantly related, regardless of whether we are Malayali or Telugu. As a South Indian, I am aware of the origins of the civilisations shown in the films I watch; thus, I don’t find them particularly uncommon. I also draw inspiration for a few roles from Kannada films from the 1990s.

Which shooting spots are your favourites, or is there anything you like about the most recent one?
The last place I spent time shooting was Chikmagalur. It has always been a pleasant location for filming! There are numerous water bodies and a lot of flora. But since I’m a major foodie, the real fun starts when I witness street food! Their neer dosas are extremely well-known. The batter is somewhat similar to water, which distinguishes this dosa from others because it comes out to be translucent. Therefore, it is imperative that I always try the local food wherever I travel for shooting, whether it is in India or abroad. I even enjoy eating non-vegetarian delicacies.

What do you think about emotions, culture and spirituality?
I believe that beliefs cannot be limited to God and ghosts. We also tell ourselves these things every day in order to survive, which is why you are asking me about them. I have absolutely no belief in superstitions! I am one of those actors who changed her real identity, to give you an example. I was born Sushmitha, but now my name is Kushee! This proved to be a miracle for me once I met an astrologer through a movie director. I became really popular because of this name. Naturally, I was first concerned because it’s the same conflict between survival and values. In the industry, I did this when I was 19 years old! Additionally, my parents were quite supportive of it. I now think that it worked to my advantage since, although I had a supporting role as Sushmitha, which was mediocre, another movie named Dia was a huge hit and brought me awards when I portrayed Dia as Kushee Ravi. My fans in Karnataka started calling me Dia Hudugi. My movie had the entire nation talking and I became well-known overnight! After that, it was remade in Marathi and Hindi. However, I wasn’t really convinced by this new astrological move, even if I wanted to believe in it. Yet, my life experience has also taught me that it’s okay to believe in superstitions at times.

Which types of roles do you enjoy the most?
My experiences are helpful because I come from a joint family. A few sequences are always enacted by my director, which is also crucial for an actor to continue in the film. Although actors don’t want to be spoon-fed, this method is beneficial. Silence was really my co-star in my most recent film! And since I enjoy being quiet and being in quiet environments in real life, I can honestly say that it was one of my favourite roles. I’ve even had roles when my facial expressions were more significant than my dialogue! Such roles are fascinating, which makes me very happy.

Would you mind sharing any more anecdotes with us?
I brought back part of the experience I experienced from shooting in a 200-year-old bungalow. I had the opportunity to visit these places back-to-back, as fate would have it. I did, however, shoot in a vintage bungalow! Despite how vast the land appeared from the outside; I was genuinely loving shooting there. At times, though, I found the same property to be rather terrifying, and I was afraid to sleep in the same hut after sunsets (the actress chuckles). I don’t even watch horror movies and to be honest, I am a little “darpok” (coward) in real life (we shared a laugh). On shootings, I can’t even be alone myself, so I call my mother or my team to remain with me.

What’s your opinion on feminist scripts?
Whether we are feminists or not, we are all survivors. This movement is more like a protest, in my opinion! We don’t always need to shout or fight, but I don’t think you have to accept silence as a sign of failure. I call it the “quiet refusal” in my life. Additionally, I always enjoy working with new directors who have a fresh viewpoint to share with me through their writing. A select few filmmakers occasionally achieve perfection in “portraying” the women characters I enjoy! At times, the location—where you are draped in sarees and all—also matters. Perhaps because I’m inherently drawn to sarees? (She laughs once more.) In general, I also enjoy trying out various roles and as an actor, our top priority is versatility. I can consider myself a successful actress if I can alter my physical attributes or get a makeover for a new role. My character’s bravery is sometimes what I remember most after seeing a movie and the reason I say this is because you will see this when you watch the kinds of films I do. As a married mother of a child, I am not subject to the same constraints as other women my age.