Published on: September 21, 2026 at 8:07 PM

Why Katrina Kaif’s Mother Lives Without Regular Electricity and Internet in a Tamil Nadu Village

Katrina Kaif with her mother. Photo: Instagram/@katrinakaif

While Katrina Kaif is known for Bollywood films, luxury, fashion and a busy life in Mumbai, her mother Suzanne Turquotte has spent years living a very different kind of life in rural Tamil Nadu.

Suzanne moved from London to Tamil Nadu in the late 2000s and devoted herself to charity, education and work with children from disadvantaged rural communities. Katrina has previously spoken about the difficult living conditions her mother faces, including limited electricity and unreliable internet access, while explaining that Suzanne chose that life because of her commitment to the children she works with.

The story has attracted renewed attention because Suzanne’s work has grown substantially over the years. What began with community-based charitable work eventually developed into Relief Projects India and Mountain View School, an English-medium school serving children from rural farming families around Usilampatti in Tamil Nadu.

Why Does Katrina Kaif’s Mother Live in a Tamil Nadu Village?

Katrina Kaif’s mother in her Tamil Nadu village home.

Katrina Kaif’s mother lives in rural Tamil Nadu because of her long-running commitment to education and community work. Suzanne Turquotte is a co-founder and education adviser associated with Relief Projects India, a grassroots nonprofit working in and around Usilampatti in Madurai district.

According to the organisation’s official website, Relief Projects India was founded in 2008. It initially worked with children and families in rural communities and later expanded into education, health, child protection, women’s empowerment and other community programmes.

Suzanne’s work eventually led to the creation of Mountain View School in 2015. The school was established to provide English-medium education to children from economically disadvantaged rural families.

For Suzanne, the move to rural Tamil Nadu was therefore connected to her charitable work rather than a conventional celebrity lifestyle.

Does Katrina Kaif’s Mother Really Live Without Electricity?

There is an important distinction here.

Katrina Kaif previously described her mother’s living conditions in a village where electricity was available for only limited hours. In an interview cited by The Indian Express, Katrina said the area had electricity for around 12 hours a day and that there were times when she could not FaceTime her mother because there was no electricity or internet.

So, it would be inaccurate to say that Suzanne has absolutely no electricity at all. The more accurate description is that she has lived with limited electricity and unreliable internet access compared with the constant connectivity available in major cities.

Katrina also described her mother’s rural life as difficult, mentioning the heat and the lack of air conditioning because of the limited electricity supply.

Why Did Suzanne Choose This Simple Lifestyle?

Katrina has repeatedly described her mother as someone deeply committed to charitable work.

In an older interview, Katrina explained that her mother had dedicated herself to helping people and that Suzanne was happy teaching children in Madurai. She connected her mother’s charity work with the values she and her siblings grew up around.

Katrina has also said that her own childhood was not centred around privilege and luxury. Her family moved between several countries while she was growing up, and her mother’s charitable work was a consistent part of their lives.

This background helps explain why Suzanne’s rural lifestyle is not simply a recent decision to live away from the spotlight. Her involvement with social work stretches back many years.

How Katrina Kaif’s Mother Started Her Work in Tamil Nadu

Relief Projects India states that it was established in 2008 and began by supporting children and families in rural communities around Usilampatti.

The organisation initially worked through free evening tuition centres and community programmes. Its work later expanded to include health awareness, child protection, women’s empowerment, adolescent development and support for girls’ education.

Older reporting from The New Indian Express also documented Suzanne’s involvement in programmes around Usilampatti and Madurai. The work included education initiatives, health support and efforts to address social problems affecting girls and women in rural communities.

Mountain View School Became a Major Part of Her Work

Mountain View School became a key part of her work.

One of Suzanne’s most significant projects is Mountain View School in E. Puthupatti, Usilampatti Taluk, Madurai district.

According to Relief Projects India, the school was established in 2015 as an English-medium primary school for children from rural farming communities.

The school began on a much smaller scale. The organisation says its first nursery served fewer than 30 children between the ages of three and five. Over the years, it expanded into a recognised nursery and primary school.

The organisation currently says the school has 305 students enrolled for the 2025–26 academic year and serves children from LKG through Grade 5.

The long-term plan is to expand the school through higher grades so children can continue their education closer to their homes.

What Does Mountain View School Provide?

The school’s stated purpose goes beyond simply providing classroom education.

Relief Projects India says Mountain View School provides English-medium education, confidence-building activities and life-skills development for children from rural and lower-income families.

The school also focuses particularly on girls, who can face additional barriers to continuing education in some rural communities.

The organisation says it is working towards expanding the school to Grade 8 and eventually Grade 12, subject to the required recognition and infrastructure.

Katrina Kaif Has Supported Her Mother’s Work

Katrina Kaif has publicly supported her mother’s charitable projects over the years.

In 2020, Katrina shared a video of Mountain View School on Instagram and encouraged people to support the school. She described it as a school built by her mother and her charity and highlighted its work providing English-medium education to children from disadvantaged backgrounds.

Older reports have also said that Katrina contributed financially to the projects and helped raise awareness and sponsorship. The actress has generally spoken about her mother’s work as something she is proud of rather than treating it as a celebrity publicity exercise.

Relief Projects India’s current website lists Suzanne Turquotte as a School Co-Founder and Education Adviser.

What Is Relief Projects India Doing Today?

Relief Projects India has expanded considerably since its early years.

According to its current official website, the organisation now works across 25 villages and has reached more than 14,000 people. Its programmes include education, health awareness, women’s empowerment, child protection and community support.

The organisation also operates free evening tuition centres for children attending government schools. Its current website lists 10 tuition centres and more than 300 children receiving support through those programmes.

These current figures show that Suzanne’s work in Tamil Nadu has developed from a small charitable initiative into a broader rural community programme.

Katrina Kaif’s Childhood Was Influenced by Her Mother’s Charity Work

Katrina has previously explained that her mother’s charitable work influenced the way she and her siblings viewed life.

In an interview with Colors Cineplex, she recalled growing up in different countries and being exposed to communities where many people lived below the poverty line. Katrina said her mother’s charity work meant that helping people was something she had been exposed to from an early age.

She has also described her childhood as relatively frugal and basic rather than centred around luxury.

That perspective offers context for why Katrina has spoken so openly about her mother’s decision to live and work in rural Tamil Nadu.

A Look at the Timeline

2008: Relief Projects India Begins

Relief Projects India was founded in 2008 to work with children and families in rural Tamil Nadu.

2009–2014: Community and Health Programmes Expand

The organisation expanded its work into village tuition, health awareness, maternal and child support and programmes focused on girls’ education and protection.

2015: Mountain View School Opens

Mountain View School was established in 2015 to provide English-medium education to children from rural farming families around Usilampatti.

2017: Katrina Shares Her Mother’s Work

Katrina shared a photograph of her mother teaching children at Mountain View School. NDTV reported that the school was located in Dindigul district and had been opened as part of Relief Projects India.

2020: Katrina Appeals for Support

Katrina publicly promoted Mountain View School and encouraged people to support its efforts to expand educational facilities for children.

2026: The Organisation Continues to Grow

Relief Projects India’s current website says it now serves more than 300 students at Mountain View School, operates 10 free evening tuition centres and works across 25 villages.

What Is Confirmed About Katrina Kaif’s Mother’s Rural Life?

Katrina Kaif’s mother is Suzanne Turquotte.
Suzanne has been involved in charitable and educational work in rural Tamil Nadu for many years.
Relief Projects India was founded in 2008.
Mountain View School was established in 2015.
The school is located in E. Puthupatti, Usilampatti Taluk, Madurai district, Tamil Nadu.
Relief Projects India currently says Mountain View School has 305 students enrolled for 2025–26.
Katrina has publicly supported and promoted her mother’s educational work.
Katrina has previously described her mother’s village as having limited electricity and unreliable internet access.

What Should Be Clarified About the Electricity and Internet Claims?

The headline phrase “without electricity and internet” can be misleading if interpreted literally.

Katrina’s earlier comments indicate that electricity was available for only part of the day, rather than being completely absent. She also said internet access could sometimes be unavailable, making video calls such as FaceTime difficult.

The current Relief Projects India website focuses on the organisation’s education and community work and does not state that Suzanne’s residence has absolutely no electricity or internet service.

For that reason, the most accurate description is that she has chosen to live in a rural area where access to electricity and internet connectivity has historically been limited.

Why Katrina Kaif’s Mother’s Story Continues to Attract Attention

The contrast between Katrina’s public life and her mother’s rural work is striking, but the story is ultimately less about celebrity lifestyle and more about a long-term commitment to education.

Suzanne’s work has continued for more than 15 years and has developed into a school and community programme serving hundreds of children and families.

For readers, the most useful context is that her rural lifestyle is connected to a larger social-work mission. The limited electricity and internet access are part of the environment in which that work has taken place, rather than the sole reason she is there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does Katrina Kaif’s mother live in a Tamil Nadu village?

Katrina Kaif’s mother, Suzanne Turquotte, moved to Tamil Nadu to work on charitable and educational projects. She is associated with Relief Projects India and Mountain View School, which support children and families in rural communities.

Does Katrina Kaif’s mother have electricity?

Katrina has previously said that the village where her mother lives had electricity for around 12 hours a day. Therefore, it is more accurate to describe her access as limited rather than saying she has no electricity at all.

Why does Katrina Kaif’s mother have limited internet access?

Katrina previously said that internet access could sometimes be unavailable in the area, which made it difficult to communicate through services such as FaceTime. The exact current connectivity at her mother’s residence has not been publicly documented by Relief Projects India.

What is Mountain View School?

Mountain View School is an English-medium nursery and primary school established in 2015 in E. Puthupatti, Usilampatti Taluk, Madurai district. Relief Projects India says it serves children from rural farming communities.

How many children study at Mountain View School?

Relief Projects India currently lists 305 students enrolled for the 2025–26 academic year. The figure may change as enrolment changes over time.

Does Katrina Kaif support her mother’s school?

Yes. Katrina has publicly promoted Mountain View School and has encouraged people to support her mother’s educational work. Older reports have also documented her financial and fundraising support for the initiative.

Who founded Relief Projects India?

Relief Projects India was founded in 2008. Its current website identifies Suzanne Turquotte as a school co-founder and education adviser and lists the organisation as working across rural communities in Usilampatti, Tamil Nadu.

Conclusion

Katrina Kaif’s mother’s life in rural Tamil Nadu is very different from the world associated with her daughter’s Bollywood career. Suzanne Turquotte chose to devote years to education and community work, eventually helping establish Mountain View School for children from rural and economically disadvantaged families.

Katrina’s own accounts provide an important detail about the lifestyle: the area has historically had limited electricity and unreliable internet, making everyday communication more difficult. But describing the situation as having absolutely no electricity would be inaccurate.

Today, Relief Projects India’s work extends across education, health, child protection and community programmes in villages around Usilampatti. The story of Katrina Kaif’s mother is therefore best understood not simply as a celebrity family curiosity, but as the story of a long-running commitment to rural education and social work.