Far removed from Bollywood’s spotlight, Katrina Kaif’s mother Suzanne Turquotte has devoted years to working with children and disadvantaged communities in Tamil Nadu. Reports say she left her legal career in London, moved to the state in 2008 and went on to establish an organisation focused on education, healthcare and child welfare.
Katrina Kaif is one of Hindi cinema’s most recognisable stars, known for films including Maine Pyaar Kyun Kiya?, Ek Tha Tiger and Tiger Zinda Hai. Beyond acting, she has also built a successful business career through her beauty brand Kay Beauty.
Her mother, Suzanne Turquotte, has followed a very different path.
While Katrina has spent much of her professional life in the public eye, Suzanne has largely stayed away from celebrity attention. Her work has instead centred on education, charitable initiatives and support for children from disadvantaged communities in Tamil Nadu.
Suzanne Turquotte Left Her Law Career in London
According to reports cited by Tehelka, Suzanne was practising as a lawyer before deciding to leave her career and dedicate herself to charitable work.
In 2008, she reportedly moved from London to Tamil Nadu, where she established Relief Projects India.
The organisation initially worked on educational support for children in rural areas. One of its early initiatives involved providing free evening classes to students attending government schools.
Over time, its work expanded to areas including child protection, healthcare and education.
Suzanne’s decision represented a significant change from her earlier professional life. Instead of continuing with a legal career in London, she chose to build her life around community work in rural Tamil Nadu.
She Started a School for Children From Disadvantaged Communities
Suzanne later founded Mountain View School in 2015.
According to the reports, the institution began as a small nursery with fewer than 30 children, many of whom came from disadvantaged backgrounds. It subsequently grew into a nursery and primary school serving more than 300 students.
The school became another extension of Suzanne’s focus on education and community development.
Rather than simply supporting children through short-term programmes, the initiative created a more structured educational environment for young students.
Katrina Kaif Has Spoken About Her Mother’s Simple Life
Katrina has previously spoken about the very different lifestyle her mother has chosen.
In an interview with ABP, the actress described Suzanne as someone who teaches at the school in Madurai and lives a modest life away from the comforts associated with Katrina’s own world of films and celebrity.
“My mom stays in Madurai, where she has started a school for children. She is a teacher. She teaches there. And she is happy.”
Katrina also connected her mother’s charitable work with her own success, saying:
“It is because of her charities and blessings that I have reached these heights.”
The actress has also described some of the practical difficulties her mother experiences while living in the area.
According to Katrina, electricity availability can be limited, which sometimes makes video calls difficult. On such occasions, she said, the two would communicate through a regular phone call instead.
‘It’s a Tough Life,’ Katrina Once Said
In another conversation with Colors Cineplex, Katrina spoke about the conditions in which her mother had chosen to live.
She explained that the area did not have air conditioning because of limited electricity access, but said Suzanne was not particularly concerned about such comforts.
Katrina described her mother’s commitment to helping marginalised communities as something that required a particular kind of person.
“She lives in this condition, and she has always done so because she enjoys helping people. It’s a tough life. It takes a different kind of person. I don’t know if I could do that.”
Katrina also said at the time that her mother had been living there for more than 15 years.
Katrina Once Shared Her Mother’s ‘Secret’ to Happiness
In 2021, Katrina shared a photograph of Suzanne on Instagram and reflected on her mother’s ability to remain cheerful despite living without many material comforts.
The actress wrote:
“I’ve often wondered how my mom is ALWAYS smiling (touchwood); now I understand it’s because she has dedicated herself to a life of service, and that is the greatest joy one can have…”
The post offered a glimpse into the admiration Katrina has expressed for her mother’s choices.
For Suzanne, the emphasis appears to have been less on a conventional definition of success and more on education, service and community work.
Katrina Kaif’s Parents Separated When She Was Young
Katrina’s parents, Suzanne Turquotte and Mohammed Kaif, separated when she was young.
Her father moved to the United States, while Katrina and her siblings were raised primarily by their mother. Katrina has previously spoken publicly about having limited contact with her father.
Suzanne, meanwhile, became the central parental figure in the family’s life and later pursued her charitable work in Tamil Nadu.
Katrina Kaif’s Last Released Film Was Merry Christmas
On the professional front, Katrina Kaif was last seen in Sriram Raghavan’s Merry Christmas, which released in January 2024.
The Hindi-Tamil bilingual film starred Katrina opposite Vijay Sethupathi and received attention for its atmospheric storytelling and the performances of its lead actors.
While Katrina’s career continues to be associated with mainstream Hindi cinema and entrepreneurship, her mother’s journey represents a markedly different form of public service—one that has taken place largely away from the entertainment industry’s spotlight.
