‘Real Kashmir Football Club’, actress Nikhaar Khullar is basking in the warmth of audience love!

A month after the release of Sony LIV’s Real Kashmir Football Club, debutant actor #NikhaarKhullar is quietly basking in the warmth of audience love and the growing conversations around the show’s poignant storytelling. For Nikhaar, the experience has been nothing short of surreal. Reflecting on the journey, she shares that she couldn’t have asked for a better introduction to the screen.

Marking her screen debut with a role that carries both responsibility and nuance, Nikhaar plays Nighat, a young journalist who sets out to understand the impact of the Real Kashmir Football Club on the youth of the region. Through her research and writing, Nighat gradually uncovers how sport becomes more than just a game.

Talking about landing the role, Nikhaar reveals that the journey began with an audition through Mukesh Chhabra Casting Company. “After the audition, there was no update for almost a month, so I honestly didn’t expect to get it. When I finally received a call from the production team confirming the role, it was a wonderful surprise. I’m deeply grateful to the casting team and the Real Kashmir Football Club team for seeing me as a part of this story,” she shares.

To prepare for the role, Nikhaar immersed herself in understanding the mindset of a journalist. “Since I was playing a journalist, I spent time understanding how someone in that space observes, questions and processes information. I focused on portraying curiosity with sensitivity, because Nighat isn’t just reporting, she’s trying to understand how football can influence hope, identity and the future of young people. That perspective gave the character a strong sense of purpose,” she says.

Sharing screen space with seasoned actors Zeeshan Ayyub and Manav Kaul proved to be a deeply enriching experience for the young actor. “Working with Zeeshan sir and Manav sir was incredible. It was truly an honour to share screen space with them, and simply watching them work helped me grow as an actor,” Nikhaar adds.

Originally from Jammu and currently based in Mumbai, Nikhaar’s foundation as an actor comes from theatre. She began her journey with theatre workshops and has been actively performing on stage since 2018. “Theatre has been central to my growth, it taught me discipline, emotional depth and honesty in performance. Alongside that, I continue to attend scene work workshops regularly to keep evolving and exploring new ways of approaching characters,” she says.

Real Kashmir Football Club continues to resonate with audiences and you can catch it on Sony Liv.

By Keerti Kadam