‘It’s a tough life’: Katrina Kaif reveals how her mother left London and now lives in a Tamil Nadu village with limited electricity to help children in India
Katrina Kaif’s mother, Suzanne Turquotte, has spent more than 15 years living and working in rural Tamil Nadu, far removed from the world of Bollywood. Suzanne moved from London to Tamil Nadu in 2008 and founded Relief Projects India (RPI), a grassroots organisation working with children and families in villages around Usilampatti in Madurai district. And this was told by Katrina herself. She has previously spoken about the conditions in which her mother lives, including limited electricity and unreliable internet connectivity. In an interview by ABP News, Katrina described her mother’s life as difficult but said Suzanne continues to live there because she enjoys helping people. “It’s a tough life,” Katrina said while talking about her mother’s life in the village.
Katrina Kaif on her mother’s life in a Tamil Nadu village
Katrina and her mother Suzanne.
As reported by ABP News, Katrina said her mother lives in a village in Tamil Nadu where basic conveniences are not always readily available. The actress explained that electricity can be unavailable for several hours, while internet connectivity can also be unreliable. These conditions can make even video calls difficult. Suzanne has lived in the village since moving to Tamil Nadu in 2008 and continues her work there. In 2014, while promoting her film Fitoor, the actor again opened up about her mother’s influence on her life. “My mother lives in Madurai and runs a school for blind children. Because of her charity work, I have achieved everything in life. All of this is because of the blessings she received,” Katrina had said.
Suzanne moved from London to Tamil Nadu
Mountain View School was founded in 2015 to provide education to children from economically disadvantaged villages around Usilampatti.
Suzanne moved to Tamil Nadu in 2008 and established Relief Projects India. According to the organisation’s official website, it is a grassroots nonprofit working with children and families in rural villages of Usilampatti Taluk, Madurai district. It was founded with a focus on giving children from disadvantaged backgrounds access to education. Its work initially grew around free evening tuition centres for children attending government schools. The programme expanded across villages in Usilampatti Taluk, with particular attention to girls’ education and reducing school dropout. Over time, the organisation expanded beyond education. The organisation says it currently works across 25 villages and has reached more than 14,000 people.
Suzanne also co-founded a school
One of the organisation’s major projects is Mountain View School, which was established in 2015. According to the school’s official website, it was founded to provide English-medium education to children from economically disadvantaged rural farming communities around Usilampatti. The school began as a nursery with fewer than 30 children between the ages of three and five. The enrollment rose from 54 students in 2016 to 305 students in 2025-26. The school currently runs from LKG to Grade 5. Susanna Turcotte is the school’s co-founder, education adviser and a member of its advisory board.
Katrina has spoken about the influence of her mother’s work
Katrina’s comments about her mother provide a personal perspective on the life Suzanne has chosen. Rather than returning to an urban lifestyle, Suzanne has continued to live close to the communities where her organisation operates. Katrina has described the conditions as difficult, particularly because of electricity and connectivity issues, but said her mother continues because she enjoys helping people.
