The Filmfare Awards South 2026, held in Kochi to celebrate the best in Malayalam, Tamil, Telugu, and Kannada cinema, was a glittering event that brought together the region’s most talented artists. While the ceremony honoured outstanding performances and films like Pushpa 2: The Rule, Amaran, Aadujeevitham, and Bramayugam, actor Niharika Konidela highlighted a notable concern following the event.
Taking to Instagram, Niharika praised the gathering of talent and described being in the room with so many artists as “truly special.” Yet she expressed disappointment that the debut winners from Telugu, Tamil, and Kannada cinema were not given a moment to speak on stage. According to her, for first-time awardees, that stage is more than recognition—it is the realisation of a dream and a platform to inspire audiences. She wrote, “Time constraints are inevitable in a show of this scale, but that one minute shouldn’t be taken away from someone standing on that stage for the first time. Because for them, that one minute may last a lifetime.”
Niharika’s remarks strike a chord in an industry where recognition and visibility play a pivotal role in shaping careers. The ceremony, while celebrating established artists, missed a chance to amplify the voices of emerging talent, a point that Niharika stressed could have made a lasting impression on audiences and fellow artists alike.
Coming from a family deeply rooted in Telugu cinema—she is the daughter of actor-producer Nagendra Babu and niece of megastar Chiranjeevi—Niharika has herself balanced the roles of actor and host, having appeared in films such as Oka Manasu, Suryakantham, and Happy Wedding, and hosted the popular show Dhee Juniors. Her candid observations reflect both personal insight and empathy toward emerging artists navigating the challenges of an industry driven by visibility.
Beyond her professional commentary, Niharika’s personal life has also been in the public eye. She became engaged to Chaitanya Jonnalagadda in a close-knit ceremony in 2020 and announced their divorce in 2023, events that further underline her openness in sharing life experiences alongside her professional journey.
Niharika’s reflections on the awards ceremony serve as a reminder that while accolades celebrate achievement, the moments of recognition on stage—particularly for debutants—carry immense symbolic value. Her call to give first-time winners even a brief opportunity to speak underscores the importance of nurturing new talent and ensuring that the next generation of artists feels seen, heard, and inspired.
