YouTuber Niharika NM says being herself in videos has worked for her

Switching between LA and South Indian accents, Bengaluru girl Niharika NM has taken social media by storm with her sassy and relatable online content. The 23-year-old YouTuber has even got celebrities talking about her videos. In a candid chat, she talks about life in LA, creating content for the online space and more...
You began with videos about dad jokes, and now your Instagram reels have garnered a lot of attention...
I still make the same dad jokes. It's a little more convenient on Instagram. When the reels feature was introduced I was very excited and jumped right in. That's how it began.
Your videos have been liked and shared by so many celebrities. Did you ever have a fangirl moment?
My biggest fangirl moment was when actress Khushboo DM'ed and followed my account. I couldn't contain it. In fact, I shared the reaction on my stories and acted like a total psycho (laughs).
Your videos have a range of characters like the South Indian girl, the LA friend and so on. Where do you get your inspiration?
My friends say that I switch to 'rowdy Niharika' when I am trying to make a point. When I am trying to explain something to them, I switch to that accent, where I say, "Macha, you know what happened and all uh?" I just tried that online and it worked. I am just being myself.
In many of your videos you mention your parents. How strict are they and how do they react to your videos?
My parents are typical South Indian parents (laughs). But they are not as strict as I make them look/sound. They are very chill. They ensure that I behave myself. I just exaggerate a little in my videos.
You are pursuing your MBA, making these videos and are also part of a segment on an OTT platform. How do you manage all of this?
It's been very overwhelming for the past month and a half and I don't know how to keep up with everything. I barely sleep for three to four hours because I work according to the Indian timing. That is when my manager messages me and we discuss. That's how I get work done. I am trying really hard, but right now I am taking it just one day at a time.
While you receive a lot of love online, how do you deal with trolls?
Honestly, I do not notice the trolls because of how much love I receive online. I'm aware of the fact that I cannot please everyone and I am okay with that. I know that not everyone will like my content. I move on because there are so many people who write and say that they love what I do, so I focus on that.
What about Bengaluru do you miss the most?
I miss everything about the city. The people, food, biryani, my family and friends. I should have said family and friends first (laughs). I really miss everything about Bengaluru.
Who have you looked up to when it comes to comic content?
My taste in comedy has evolved over the years. When I was young, my biggest influences were Jim Carrey, Teddy Cruz, South Indian comics like Brahmanandam, Vadivelu and more. They are very expressive with their faces and I love that.
What are you working on next?
Definitely more long format content, because YouTube is very dear to me. I may switch up the content a little more - maybe try out a skit format - cause as of now, I have been doing rants. So I may want to switch it up a bit.