Wanted To Forge My Own Identity; Didn’t Rely On My Grandfather’s Name — Niharica Raizada

Niharica Raizada, the granddaughter of the late music composer O.P. Nayyar, was crowned Miss UK in 2010, followed by Miss India Worldwide. She was raised in Luxembourg. Although she trained as a medical scientist, she stepped into the world of cinema in 2013. Her debut film was a Bengali feature titled Damadol. However, she garnered significant attention for her roles in films such as Baby and Masaan. In 2025, Niharica appeared in the film Adrika, and this year, she was seen in Mercy, which was released in April. Learned Something from Every Artist

To date, Niharica Raizada has worked in films such as Masaan, Baby, Total Dhamaal, and Sooryavanshi. What did she learn while working alongside major stars in these films? Responding to this, she says, “I have learned something from every artist. For instance, Om Puri ji was an emotional man he even performed his acting through his emotions so I learned that aspect from him.

From Ranveer Singh, I learned that to become an actor, one must be passionate. Akshay (Kumar) Sir talks to everyone; he is a very easygoing individual, yet also highly disciplined. He neither smokes nor consumes alcohol. So, I learned the importance of discipline and how to maintain one’s physique from him. From Ajay Devgn Sir, I gained insights into the business side of things such as running a cinema hall business and the nuances of becoming a producer or director.”

Adil Ji Is Amazing

Currently, Niharica is making headlines for her role in the film Mercy. In this film, she stars alongside the veteran actor Adil Hussain. Sharing her experience of working with him, she says, “From Adil ji, I learned how to remain humble and grounded even after having done so many films.” He has worked in superhit films such as English Vinglish and Life of Pi. Yet, observing him, one realizes that the higher a person ascends in life, the simpler they tend to become.

He is a philosopher and has read numerous books. He would often improvise on set, and what we refer to as “natural acting” that is precisely what Adil Sir delivers. To be honest, he is truly remarkable. The subject of nepotism often comes up in the film industry. However, Niharika has not yet received opportunities of that nature. Why, after all, did she not leverage her grandfather’s name? In response, Niharika says, “Because no one allowed me to use it. Nevertheless, I have worked with some excellent directors, and I take great pride in the directors I’ve collaborated with.

I consider it a stroke of good fortune simply to be a part of this industry; after all, many people aspire to work in films, yet never get the chance. While belonging to a film family does offer certain advantages however subtle the full potential of that privilege did not, in my case, translate into a personal advantage.” She further explains, “My entry into the industry was, in fact, entirely on my own merit, as I had previously held the title of Miss India.

I auditioned and secured the opportunity. However, the film Total Dhamaal was indeed something I landed thanks to my family background. Initially, I never revealed to anyone that I hailed from a film family, as I was determined to carve out my own identity. I want to be recognized for who I am for my own persona rather than being defined solely by my family.”

Decision On Euthanasia Must Be Taken With Caution And Prudence

While Niharika is currently appearing in the film *Mercy*, the case involving Harish Rana’s plea for euthanasia garnered significant attention just a short while ago. What are Niharika’s thoughts on this matter? She states, “I do not view euthanasia as something inherently wrong.

However, I firmly believe it should be considered only when an individual’s medical condition has deteriorated to such an extent that absolutely no other viable options remain.” “Thus, just as Harish Rana’s food and other amenities were withdrawn, our court could similarly take a decision regarding the items in question. However, this decision must be taken by the authorities with extreme caution and prudence, after considering all aspects.”