Exclusive! Nikki Galrani to resume shooting for Malayalam mystery-thriller Virunnu after Pongal

Just back from a quick holiday to Maldives to ring in her 30thbirthday, Nikki Galrani is rearing to resume work. “I am currently working on the Malayalam film Virunnu with Action King Arjun Sarja sir, directed by Kannan Thamarakkulam. We have completed two schedules and should start a third sometime next week in Kerala. I am hoping to finish off Pongal (Sankranti) celebrations and then head to the set of the film. I love the festive spirit during Pongal, especially the yummy food. As for the film, well, Virunnu is a mystery thriller that revolves around my character, and has actors like Asha Sharath ma’am and Mukesh sir among others,” says the actress, whose last film in Malayalam was Dhamaka.

Up next, though, Nikki is looking forward to the release of her Tamil film Idiot, a horror comedy directed by Rambala, with Shiva, which was supposed to be in theatres in late 2021, but was postponed. “The team is weighing its options about whether to go ahead with a theatrical release or head to OTT, keeping in mind the pandemic situation. Meanwhile, I have a film in Telugu up for release, called Shivudu, in which I am paired with Aadhi Pinisetty. This has been directed by Susienthiran sir, who is originally from Kollywood and is my third film with Aadhi, after Yagavarayinum Naa Kaakka and Maragadha Naanayam,” she says.

It’s been five-to-six years since Nikki Galrani moved lock stock and barrel from Bengaluru to Chennai, where work was on the upswing for her. “The move was not intentional, it was organic, because my work was here and it made more sense to be closer to where the action was happening than keep shuttling. These days, I am very rarely in Bengaluru, maybe for a family event, or so. In fact, I have become so acclimatized to being in Chennai that I tend to feel cold in Bengaluru,” laughs Nikki.