Niharika NM, a name synonymous with viral digital content in India, is now carving a distinct path in the world of cinema. Her journey, which began with an accidental viral video in 2016, spans a decade of content creation and is now transitioning into long-form storytelling on the big screen.
The Accidental Viral Spark and Multilingual Roots
Long before she became a digital icon, Niharika was a teenager who loved performing, from reciting film dialogues in front of the mirror to making her friends laugh. Her first brush with fame came at the age of 16, through a playful video shot on the eve of a maths exam in 2015. When her best friend uploaded it online, the video went viral by accident, a moment that changed everything.
Her fluency in performance is deeply tied to her multicultural upbringing. "I was born in Chennai, raised in Bengaluru, and speak Telugu at home, since my parents are from Vijayawada, and it is my mother tongue," she revealed. This exposure to different cities and languages shaped her communication skills, playing a significant role in both her acting and content creation. Being a polyglot allows her to enjoy films in multiple languages without subtitles, a skill that fuels her cinephilia.
From MBA to Movies: An Unexpected On-Screen Turn
Despite being a lifelong movie buff who grew up admiring stars like Mahesh Babu, Allu Arjun, Pawan Kalyan, and Chiranjeevi, Niharika never imagined herself as an actress. "I was drawn to the filmmaking world but never saw myself on screen," she admitted. Her first on-camera dialogue as a child was from the film 'Indra'. This passion led her to pursue an MBA in finance and entertainment marketing, aiming to be involved in the industry behind the scenes.
After a break to complete her master's degree abroad, she returned to content creation during the COVID-19 pandemic, riding the wave of short-form videos and memes. However, the call of cinema grew stronger. She has since appeared in films like 'Mithra Mandali' and 'Idhayam Murali', and is currently filming the Telugu project 'Alcohol' alongside veteran actor Allari Naresh.
A Cautious Perspective on Fame and Future
Having been a public figure since her teenage years, Niharika has a mature and cautious outlook on fame. "I was exposed to attention during my formative teenage years. At that age, it feels exciting, but having experienced it so early, I've realised how fleeting fame really is," she reflected. She firmly believes that "the more you chase fame, the less you get," viewing it as an unquantifiable and incidental outcome of her work rather than a primary goal.
Her focus now is firmly on her transition into cinema and embracing the nuances of long-form storytelling and representation. Niharika NM's evolution from a silly kid making people laugh to a serious film professional marks a significant shift in the landscape where digital creators are seamlessly moving into mainstream entertainment.
