For Gouri Kishan, acting was never a carefully mapped career goal. It happened unexpectedly and opened the door to a world she had not imagined for herself. Since winning widespread recognition as young Jaanu in 96, the actor has continued to explore varied characters, resisting the pressure to remain confined to the image that first introduced her to audiences.
In an interview with Indulge, Gouri spoke about her upcoming series Love Always, the evolution of her choices as a performer and the importance of addressing gender inequality in the film industry. She also reflected on body-image expectations, the value of female friendships and the experiences that have shaped her understanding of acting.
Gouri Kishan on Playing Manjula in Love Always
In Love Always, Gouri plays Manjula, a woman whose life takes an unexpected turn when she finds herself young again. Having married early with idealistic expectations, Manjula has spent years learning from the realities of life. The sudden age reversal allows her to revisit her experiences from a different perspective.
Describing the character, Gouri said Manjula changes considerably over time, evolving from a timid and gentle young woman into someone witty, opinionated and confident about making her own decisions.
The series also gave Gouri the opportunity to work alongside actors portraying older versions of the central characters. She recalled the warmth on set, particularly the rapport between the younger and senior performers, including Jayasudha and Jayaprakash.
For Gouri, the story goes beyond its fantastical premise. It explores identity, relationships and the ways people understand themselves at different stages of life.
Why Gouri Is Not Trying to Escape the Shadow of 96
The success of 96 introduced Gouri to audiences through Jaanu, a character that continues to hold a special place in her career. However, she said she has never deliberately chosen roles simply to distance herself from that image.
Instead, she wants to explore different kinds of characters without feeling obligated to repeat what audiences already know her for. She pointed to Kalki in LIK and Gauri in Love Under Construction as examples of roles that offer a different perspective on her range.
For the actor, gratitude for a breakthrough role should not become a reason to remain creatively restricted.
She also said her understanding of a good role has evolved with experience. Screen time and prominence are not necessarily the most important measures; what matters is how a character contributes to the story and what the role allows her to explore as a performer.
Gouri now pays closer attention to a project’s writing, the director’s vision and the conversations a film might encourage. Even so, she hopes not to lose the instinctive excitement she felt when she first started acting.
‘Acting Was Never Part of the Plan’
Reflecting on her journey, Gouri admitted that she had not initially imagined herself becoming an actor.
“Firstly, I didn’t even know I had an actor in me. Acting was never part of the plan,” she said in the interview.
She described performing as an experience that can sometimes feel almost spiritual, particularly when a scene comes together in a way she could not have anticipated. One moment that remains memorable for her is a monologue in Suzhal 2 featuring Lal.
Gouri believes such experiences cannot be forced. They emerge when preparation, vulnerability and spontaneity come together, allowing an actor to reach beyond what they expected of themselves.
She also acknowledged that the profession involves uncertainty, with periods of limited work followed by sudden opportunities. Learning to balance preparation with the ability to respond instinctively remains part of her development.
Gouri Kishan on Beauty Standards and Women’s Voices
Beyond her acting career, Gouri spoke about the expectations placed on women in entertainment, particularly regarding their appearance and ageing. While she recognises that representation has improved, she believes the industry still has work to do in moving beyond conventional beauty standards.
She argued that celebrating diversity publicly is not enough if women continue to face scrutiny over their bodies and appearance. For her, the larger goal is to create space for women to be recognised for their work, opinions and achievements without their looks dominating the conversation.
Gouri also discussed the importance of speaking up about issues that matter. Having studied journalism, she said she remains attentive to what is happening around her, while acknowledging that it is equally important to learn about an issue before commenting on it.
She recalled facing online criticism after expressing solidarity during protests she referred to as the CJP protests. The experience made her reflect on how quickly discussions about freedom of expression can become hostile.
The actor said she intends to continue voicing her views when she feels it is necessary, while also protecting the time and focus she needs for her craft.
‘The Film Industry Needs to Speak More Openly About Misogyny’
One issue Gouri wants the entertainment industry to address more openly is everyday misogyny. She believes that unequal treatment can become so normalised that people stop questioning whose opinions are heard, whose boundaries are respected and who feels comfortable saying no.
She emphasised that meaningful change requires more than public statements. Workplaces need to allow people to express discomfort, disagree and raise concerns without fearing professional consequences.
Recounting an incident on a Malayalam film set, Gouri said she offered her perspective during a discussion but felt ignored as the men present directed their attention elsewhere. For her, the experience illustrated how women’s contributions can be dismissed even when they are part of the conversation.
She believes that professional environments must make room for people at every career stage to speak and be taken seriously.
Female Friendships, Reading and Life Beyond Work
Away from film sets, Gouri finds comfort in reading, observing human behaviour and spending time with friends. She recently connected with Dolly Alderton’s memoir Everything I Know About Love, particularly its exploration of relationships and female friendships.
She described her friendships with women as deeply important to her personal growth, saying her friends have helped her reconnect with parts of herself that she might otherwise overlook.
Reading, she added, has also shaped the way she approaches characters. It has encouraged her to look beyond what people say and consider the emotions, contradictions and motivations beneath the surface.
Looking ahead, Gouri hopes to take on characters who are complicated, imperfect and not necessarily easy to like. She is equally interested in creating a more fulfilling life beyond work, making room for travel, new experiences and relationships.
For an actor whose career began unexpectedly, the next chapter appears to be about remaining curious, choosing stories thoughtfully and allowing personal growth to shape the work she does on screen.
