Fame is fleeting, and I’ve never chased it: Niharika NM

Before she became a digital icon, Niharika NM was a teenager who loved performing, from reciting film dialogues in front of the mirror to making people laugh. A viral video in 2016 introduced her to internet fame, leading to a decade-long career in content creation. Now transition-ing into cinema, she has appeared in films such as Mithra Mandali and Idhayam Murali, and is currently filming the Telugu project Alcohol alongside Allari Naresh. In a chat with Hyderabad Times, Niharika discusses her shift toward long-form storytelling, the nuances of representation, and her perspective on fame as an incidental outcome of her work. Excerpts...



‘Exposure to different cultures shaped how I communicate and perform’

Growing up in different cities gave Niharika fluency in multiple languages. “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. Being constantly surrounded by different languages made communication easier for me, and that has played a big role in both my acting and content creation journey. The best part of being able to speak multiple languages is that I can watch films in multiple languages and truly enjoy them without subtitles,” she said.




‘Making people laugh was my biggest high growing up’

Her first brush with fame came at 16, through a playful video shot on the eve of a maths exam. “I was always a silly kid who loved making people laugh. It was my biggest high growing up. I enjoyed telling stories and being creative with my friends,” she recalled. When her best friend uploaded the video online in 2015, “It went viral by accident, and that moment changed everything,” she said. After a break to complete her master’s abroad, she returned to content creation during COVID. “Short-form videos and memes became big, and at my friend’s insistence, I started making videos again. That’s how my social media journey resumed,” Niharika added.

‘I was drawn to the filmmaking world but never saw myself on screen’

Despite being a cinephile from a young age, Niharika never imagined acting would be part of her path. “I’ve always loved movies and wanted to be involved in the film industry in my own way. I have loved watching films starring Mahesh Babu, Allu Arjun, Pawan Kalyan, and Chiranjeevi. The first dialogue I ever said on camera as a kid was from Indra. I loved it. That’s why I pursued an MBA in finance and entertainment marketing,” she said.

‘The more you chase fame, the less you get’

Niharika has always approached fame with caution. “I’ve been a public figure since I was probably too young to be on the internet. 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. Today one person is relevant, tomorrow it’s someone else. The more you chase fame, the less you get. It’s such an unquantifiable thing to run after, and I don’t think that’s something I want for myself.”

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