‘I Left a High-Paying Career for Acting’: Niharika NM Opens Up About Her Biggest Gamble Ahead of Bhai Tera Star Hai

Mumbai: Internet sensation Niharika NM has opened up about one of the boldest decisions of her career walking away from a thriving and financially rewarding content creation journey to pursue acting full-time.

Known for her viral comedy sketches and multilingual videos, the social media star is now making her Hindi film debut with Bhai Tera Star Hai, starring Raghav Juyal. The film is set to release in theatres on July 31, marking another milestone in her transition from digital creator to mainstream actor.

Reflecting on her journey, Niharika described it as an emotional and challenging phase that demanded immense self-belief.

‘It Was a Risk I Was Willing to Take’

Speaking about leaving social media at the height of her popularity, Niharika NM revealed that the decision wasn’t made overnight.“I stopped making content probably three years ago and it was a risk that I was willing to take at the peak of my social media career because I truly believed I wanted to be part of bigger stories that I was passionate about telling. It was a risk I was willing to take, and I think it is slowly paying off.”

She admitted that stepping away from a successful career and the substantial income that came with it—was intimidating. However, her confidence in rebuilding her career if things did not work out gave her the courage to move forward.

According to the actor, she wanted to dedicate herself entirely to learning the craft instead of balancing acting with content creation.

Choosing Acting Over Comfort

Niharika explained that her goal was never to be recognised only as an internet personality.

She wanted audiences to appreciate her performances on screen and accept her as an actor based on her work rather than her online popularity.

The actor acknowledged that the transition came with pressure and responsibility but added that the journey has also helped her discover what truly makes her happy.

‘Storytelling Has Always Been My Dream’

Responding to the perception that her social media fame helped her land film roles, Niharika clarified that acting had always been her ultimate ambition.

She shared that she was actively involved in theatre from a young age and later pursued both an MBA and MFA at Chapman University, where storytelling remained central to her creative journey.

According to her, content creation was simply another medium of storytelling before she eventually moved into cinema.

Excited About ‘Bhai Tera Star Hai’

Niharika will be seen playing Rashmi in Bhai Tera Star Hai, a character she describes as energetic, outspoken, and full of heart.

She credited director Vivek Agarwal for believing she was the right choice for the role and described the entire filming experience as “magical.”

The actress also praised producer Avantika and the entire cast and crew, saying the supportive environment exceeded her expectations.

Sharing the Screen with Raghav Juyal

One of the highlights of the film for Niharika was working alongside Raghav Juyal, who headlines the project.

She said watching him perform felt like a full-circle moment, adding that she had admired his journey for years and was proud of the hard work that brought him to this stage of his career.

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Among her favourite memories from the shoot was an improvised scene with Raghav that wasn’t originally written in the script. She recalled how both actors naturally matched each other’s energy, resulting in one of her most memorable scenes in the film.

Comedy Remains Close to Her Heart

Although Niharika is exploring different genres, she admitted that comedy remains her favourite.

She believes making people laugh has always been the foundation of her career and described the joy of bringing smiles to audiences as priceless.

According to her, Bhai Tera Star Hai is unique because its cast is largely made up of outsiders, each of whom has worked hard to earn a place in the industry.

Breaking Beauty Stereotypes

Niharika also reflected on the lack of representation she noticed while growing up.

As someone who admired South Indian cinema, she once believed actresses who looked like her rarely got opportunities to play lead roles because of conventional beauty standards.

Today, she is encouraged by the industry’s gradual acceptance of actors from diverse backgrounds, skin tones, and body types, though she believes there is still progress to be made.

More Challenging Roles Ahead

Following the positive response to her Tamil romantic drama Idhayam Murali, Niharika revealed that she already has several Tamil film projects lined up.

Interestingly, her upcoming roles will move away from comedy and romance, allowing her to explore much darker and more intense characters.

With Bhai Tera Star Hai marking her Bollywood debut and multiple Tamil films in the pipeline, Niharika NM believes the gamble she took three years ago is finally beginning to pay off—one performance at a time.