The actors open up about their roles in Atharvaa’s coming-of-age film, Preity’s action turn in Blast, and how Niharika’s content creator experience helps market projects
It has been 35 years since the late actor Murali became the silver-screen symbol of unrequited love for Tamil society. His film Idhayam told the story of a man’s tribulations in pursuing love for a college mate. Now, in 2026, Idhayam Murali is once again promising to steal hearts.
Murali’s son and popular actor Atharvaa is headlining the coming-of-age film, helmed by producer-director Aakash Baskaran. Starring as the female leads are Kayadu Lohar, Preity Mukhundhan, and Niharika NM.
Preity Mukhundhan: A Character with Agency
Preity Mukhundhan plays one of the love interests of the protagonist. “It’s a coming-of-age film about the life of a shy boy, how he goes about his life, the people he meets, and the people he falls in love with,” says Preity, adding how her character travels throughout the story. “She is smart, speaks her heart out, and stands up for herself.”
The actor notes how producer-director Aakash ensured the whole process was collaborative. “Right at the beginning, he told us that this project would be collaborative. And just like the tone of the film, the way he directed us was also very breezy.”
Blast and the Female Action Hero
Preity is also in the limelight for her stellar action turn in Blast. “I like that her fighting ability was given a solid backstory. I am glad that this was not something like ‘she is raging because she went through abuse.’ I liked that they gave her agency and that she didn’t have to go through much to be confident.”
Asked about the need for a backstory for female action heroes, Preity says, “Yes, but I like the fact that there’s a backstory because it grounds the story in reality. And people will feel more relatable, because the idea is that she is one amongst us. She is never trying to be the heroine.”
With quite a few out-of-the-box films in the pipeline, Preity now wishes to be a Tarantino heroine. “If a good writer comes my way, I would love to do a film like Kill Bill… like do a full-on fem-rage and revenge-fuelled, slick action film.”
Niharika NM: From Content Creator to Actor
Popular content creator and actor Niharika NM acts as composer-actor Thaman’s love interest in Idhayam Murali. Even after acting in several released and yet-to-be-released titles, she says she can never feel at home in the entertainment industry. “If anyone says they feel at home here, they are lying. It’s something you do as a job. You roll with the punches, and you take one day at a time.”
On Acting and Social Media
Niharika confesses that acting can be daunting. “Contrary to my social media persona, I am an ambivert. So I do struggle with being ‘on’ all the time. But I have figured it out. If I want to stay quiet, I just stay quiet. If I feel chatty, I am chatty. I don’t try anymore. I am exhausted.”
While her experience in content creation may not help her gauge a project, Niharika says it certainly helps her market a film. “I know how to help push a film based on what it is, without it necessarily being in my style.”
Future Projects
Those who have consumed Niharika’s content would know how her Reels are well thought out. She reveals she is working on something long format, “not for Instagram or YouTube.” She recently teased her upcoming Hindi debut, an upcoming rom-com co-starring Raghav Juyal.
On ’90s Romances
Given the waves of nostalgia that Idhayam Murali hits us with, one wonders if Niharika has a favourite ’90s or 2000s romance film. “A lot of those films are great to rewatch, but you can’t make them now because there are so many politically incorrect things in them,” says Niharika. “I would love to replicate so many of Shah Rukh Khan sir’s films, like Kuch Kuch Hota Hai, but it might start a lot of other narratives.”
