Niharika NM: On Entering Movies, Her Upcoming Dark Comedy in Tamil, And Wanting To Act With Mahesh Babu

The 16-year old who took social media by storm a decade ago, Niharika NM grew up on the Internet. Ten years later, the established content creator is making her boldest move yet: stepping into the world of cinema.

“I always made content because I enjoyed it. Even my first video was just for friends and family to watch,” she reveals. “My best friend uploaded it without telling me, and that’s how my journey began.”

From Kareena Kapoor Khan to Mahesh Babu, Naga Chaitanya and Shahid Kapoor, she’s teamed up on Instagram with some of the biggest actors; little did she know that she’d be joining their ranks soon too.

Besides signing a three-film deal with Karthik Subbaraj's Stone Bench Creations, Niharika also has a comedy in the works with Geetha Arts, a crime thriller with S Originals and Waltair Productions, a movie with Lyca Productions, as well as another film that is still under wraps.

Unlike most debutant actors, however, she explains that she didn’t grow up dreaming of being one. “I didn't think I had the audacity to dream that big,” she recalls. “But when the opportunity came my way, and I actually got it, I couldn't wrap my head around it for the longest time.”

In her first interview as an actor, Niharika speaks to THR India and reflects on breaking into the film industry, the whirlwind of signing seven films in her first year, a new life on set, and the dreams she’s chasing next.

As one of India’s top content creators, what’s been the biggest shift in transitioning to acting?

As a creator, I’m used to getting instant gratification. I know what people like or don't like just 24 hours after a video is uploaded. But with movies, I don't understand the math. Now, I'm pestering the people I meet on set to teach me the technical aspects. It’s not just me shooting in my room with a camera anymore, you know? I've just never been around hundreds of creative people in this way.

Why did you choose to start your career with Tamil and Telugu films?

I’m owning my roots. I was born in Chennai, my parents roots are from Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, and I was raised in Bengaluru—so there’s a mix of languages even within the family, a real hodgepodge of cultures!

I trained under [casting coach] Shanoo Sharma ma'am, who works with YRF. She’s the one who put me in acting workshops and spent about a year-and-half on training me. My break just happened to be in the south and I couldn't be happier because that is where my roots lie.

Also, I’ve learned Hindi only over the past two years, while I’ve spoken Telugu and Tamil ever since I was a child... so I felt more at ease. I was handheld and guided through it all by extremely professional mentors who are incredible at their job.

On that note, tell us about your three-film deal with Karthik Subbaraj's Stone Bench Creations?

The first one is about to be released very, very soon. The poster will be out on Pongal, and it’s a dark comedy in Tamil.

I first worked with Stone Bench to promote a film called Jigarthanda DoubleX (2023) two years ago. We had a video call where the Stone Bench team recorded me reading a script in Tamil. Since I had to say the whole thing in one breath, they suggested a few practice rounds. However, after the first practice round, there was just silence at their end. I thought I did a really bad job, but they ended up saying they were thrilled with it!

Cut to (Did you see how I said ‘cut to’ like I'm a professional actor or something?) when I met [writer-director] Balaji [Jayaraman] Sir, who gave me a two-liner from a film and said that I should audition for it. At that time, I wasn’t actively looking for acting jobs because I thought I had to spend another year in training. But I decided to audition for practice. However, I got it immediately and it was surreal. During the filming of that project, I locked in the other two projects with Stone Bench as well.

You also made your Koffee with Karan debut before the release of your first film...

I grew up more on S.S. Rajamouli and Mani Ratnam's films, so when a Bollywood biggie like Karan Johar sir wanted me on his show, none of it made sense; I was just counting my blessings. 

I had just come back from the US for a couple of shoots, having locked in a corporate job there post my MBA. I was going to move to New York from L.A—that was the plan. But after I came to India, I never went back. It was just being in the right place at the right time for me.

Who has been your favourite, among the stars you've worked with so far?

I'll be diplomatic… (laughs) Maybe because I'm so new, I've been learning so much on every set. I'm grateful for how patient everyone has been with me and for the confidence that my directors have shown in me. Funnily enough, the actors I've worked with are the ones I watched growing up.

Tell us about a particularly memorable moment on set?

Just me trying to act like this is a regular Tuesday in my life and convincing others that I’m this chill, nonchalant, mysterious girl—when on the inside, I’m freaking out!

The premise of my first movie is so bizarre—a dark comedy—that all of us, who are part of its ensemble cast, had to keep it together. We couldn't stop laughing because we couldn't believe what we were doing. I got to work with legendary comedians and see them do their thing live on set; their comic timing, or the way that they would switch expressions.

I knew a bit about how to work the algorithm on Instagram but it’s nothing compared to what they can do. I decided to absorb it all like a sponge, add a little tadka [spice], make it my own and live a whole new life, really.

What was it like, doing action in one of your first films?

Your body goes through so much. And the very next day, they want you to do a sweet little sequence, and the brain and body are shocked by the shift. I didn’t have a stunt double, so I did them all by myself... it was really fun; we all have battle scars.

I had the biggest bruise that I've ever seen in my entire life and I was so proud of it—it was my trophy. Initially, I thought I would mostly be looked at for comedy, but the directors that I came across had seen my expressions in some Reels and videos, and thought I would fit other kinds of roles too.

Whenever I went into an audition, I believed that I was doing it for fun because I thought I was still in the training period montage of my life. But when they started converting into actual opportunities, I didn't know how to react.

Could you walk us through your first day on set?

On the first day on the sets of my first movie, I didn't know how to be myself. I was really quiet, wondering what to do with the camera and light. But the directors and producers were so patient with me. This is set to release within the next couple of months hopefully. They're all theatrical releases and have already been bought by platforms. I'm having major imposter syndrome right now. (laughs)

You recently also guest-starred on Netflix's animated sitcom, Big Mouth!

That was my real debut—as a voice artist for a cartoon character, and I thought it would be my biggest achievement in my life.

I watched [actor-comedians] Jordan Peele and Nick Kroll growing up and I got to interact with Peele briefly on a call. I don't think he even remembers who I am, but that was incredible. We dubbed it in Mumbai and got on a video call with the makers of the show. They guided me through it and asked for variations. It was just all done digitally, but they knew exactly what they wanted as they had the animations beforehand; it was just so well done.

Who are the actors and filmmakers you dream of working with next?

S.S Rajamouli sir and Mani Ratnam sir. We have to dream big, right?

As for my dream co-star, it has been Mahesh Babu since I was five, and it will never change. At the moment, I'm just having the best time and couldn't be more excited or grateful.