The theory of relatability

Niharika NM is working with A-listers and throwing popcorn at them. Cannes? She's been three times. She's chosen a Tamil film as a debut. But she's still just as much the girl next door. What does being "real" mean when you're at the top? We asked her

- Urvee Modwel

Niharika NM has the secret sauce. The 27-year-old, Chennai-born, Bangalore-raised, California-educated engineer- MBA may not know what her secret sauce is. But eight years into making videos, she's found a way to turn the girl-next-door into the coolest person in the room.

She started out like everyone else, making funny sketches. Types of Eaters (the health freak, the foreign return, the messy one, the spitter), Types of Students During an Exam (the one who wants an extra sheet, the snitch, the sign language copycat, the liar, the one with the breakdown). Then, after she moved to Instagram in the pandemic, she'd switch effortlessly between her Bangalore mannerisms and California Valley Girl phrasing. On one Reel, titled One Way Street This Is, she talks about why letting go of someone you love is neither easy nor useful. It went viral in 2020, hitting 10 million views in a week. Living Alone 101, another Reel, highlighted the expectations and reality of solo living. It hit 11 million views in under 13 days. It's clear that Niharika is witty, gets comic timing, and effortlessly makes the mundane magical. It's also clear that she knows exactly what millennials are obsessing over at the moment.

On Instagram, Niharika has 3.4 million followers. Her Reels routinely get 1 million views. She even guest-starred on S7 of the Netflix show Big Mouth. So, where do funny girls go from here? Niharika is heading south, with a Tamil-language movie under Lyca Productions. "It's a wholesome film, filled with romance, comedy, friendship, and heartbreak," she savs. Frankly, it sounds like one of her Reels.

Fresh off the Cannes red carpet for the third time, Niharika sat down with Brunch to offer a glimpse of what life is like when a creator leaps from the phone screen to the big screen.

Tell us about the last time you were overwhelmed.