Gouri G. Kishan

Gouri G Kishan was born on 17 August 1999 at Adoor in the Pathanamthitta district of Kerala to Geethakishan and Veena.^[4] Her mother is from Vaikom, Kottayam.^[5][6] Her native language is Malayalam. She was raised in Chennai and did her schooling at The Hindu Senior Secondary School in Chennai.^[7][3] She then completed her B.A. degree in Journalism from Christ University, Bengaluru.^[8][9]

Gouri G Kishan played the younger version of Trisha's character, Jaanu, in the Tamil-language film, '96 (2018). She won the role after her uncle in Dubai told her about the casting call.^[9] Gouri was studying grade 12 and was called for an audition for the film.^[6][3] Her performance in the film received positive reviews and brought further film offers.^[10][11][12] In 2019, she made her debut in Malayalam cinema with Margamkali (2019).^[13] She was set to make her debut in the film Anugraheethan Antony with Sunny Wayne, but the production of the film was delayed, which meant that Margamkali ended up releasing first.^[14][15] She starred opposite Bibin George in Margamkali.^[16]

In 2020, she reprised her role as Jaanu in the Telugu remake of 96, Jaanu, which marked her Telugu debut.^[6] Her performance in the film was praised by critics.^[17][18] Sangeetha Devi Dundoo of The Hindu remarked that "Gouri G Kishan as the teenage Samantha is brilliant".^[19] She played a college student in Master (2021).^[13][20] Gouri also starred in Karnan playing one of the three heroines along with Rajisha Vijayan and Lakshmi Priyaa Chandramouli.^[21] with Dhanush, which is directed by Mari Selvaraj.^[22] She made her lead Telugu debut with Sridevi Shoban Babu (2023), playing the titular female role.^[23]

During a film promotion event held a day before her film Others' release, a YouTuber asked Gouri what her weight was. Gouri reacted angrily, calling the question an act of body shaming and sexualizing, and asked the YouTuber what he would gain from it. He replied that he could not ask her about Donald Trump instead. Gouri also reported that she was attacked in a room full of men; that her female co-lead, Anju Kurian, who had been posting frequent film promotions with her, was absent on the final film promotion day. The YouTuber alleged the incident was a publicity stunt by PR agencies , noting the film's release was the next day, and refused to apologize for his question. Later, The YouTuber did apologize, but Gouri rejected it and told him to apologize better.^[24][25] After rejecting it, on the same day, Gouri commented, "haiyoo 😂😂" on an Instagram video mocking the YouTuber’s typical Tamil black skinned and overweight physique. The term “haiyoo” is a teasing expression in Malayalam. The comment drew widespread criticism toward Gouri for perceived double standards and opportunistic behavior.^[26]