Niharika Konidela calls Filmfare Awards South 2026 a ‘missed opportunity’ for not letting debut winners speak on stage

The Filmfare Awards South 2026 was held in Kochi, where the best in Malayalam, Tamil, Telugu and Kannada films were recognised.

Updated on: Feb 22, 2026, 17:04:06 IST

By Santanu Das

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Actor Niharaika Konidela shared her candid thoughts after attending the Filmfare Awards South 2026 ceremony in Kochi. The actor took to her Instagram account on Sunday afternoon to state that although being in the room with so many artists was ‘truly special’, she could not help but notice that the debut winners were not given a moment to speak on stage. (Also read: Filmfare Awards South 2026 full list of winners: Pushpa 2, Amaran wins big, Amitabh Bachchan wins for Kalki 2898 AD)

Niharika Konidela shared her thoughts after attending the Filmfare Awards South 2026.

What Niharika said

Niharika began by saying, “Celebrating the brilliance of Indian cinema at the Filmfare awards is always a highlight and seeing such incredible talent under one roof was truly special.”

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A post shared by Niharika Konidela (@niharikakonidela)

She went on to add, “However, I couldn't help but feel a sense of missed opportunity that the debut winners from Telugu, Tamil, and Kannada cinema weren't given a moment to speak. For an artist at the very beginning of their journey, that stage isn't just a platform, it's their dream materialising. Hearing their voices would have reminded us all why we fell in love with cinema in the first place.”

‘That one minute may last a lifetime’

The note also read, “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.”

At the Filmfare Awards 2026, Pushpa 2: The Rule, Amaran, Aadujeevitham and Bramayugam were the big winners, clinching multiple awards.

Niharika is the daughter of actor-producer Nagendra Babu and niece of actor Chiranjeevi. She hosted the show Dhee Juniors and acted in films including Oka Manasu, Suryakantham, and Happy Wedding.

On the personal front, Niharika got engaged to Chaitanya Jonnalagadda in a close-knit family affair in August 2020. The ceremony was only attended by the close family members of the couple. She announced her divorce from Chaitanya Jonnalagadda in 2023.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Santanu Das
Santanu Das is a Senior Content Producer at Hindustan Times with over 5 years of experience, writing on films, pop culture and film festivals. He has a keen interest in writing about South Asian independent films and has covered several film festivals, including Sundance and CPH: Docx. He also brings a sharp perspective to the monthly column called The Fault in Our Stars, where he writes about a recent film/series and what stops the ‘good’ from becoming ‘great’. A gold medalist from Banaras Hindu University, Santanu completed his postgraduate studies in English from Jadavpur University. He is also a Rotten Tomatoes-certified film critic. When not watching films or speaking to celebrities, Santanu can be found reading a book. Some of his favourite films are Aparajito, Ponyo and The Double Life of Veronique. His favourite books include The Corrections, The God of Small Things and A Room of One's Own. Santanu continues to write passionately about films and celebrity culture. He brings a relatable, as well as critically informed, lens to entertainment and culture for a wide audience. Find him on LinkedIn: santanudasfilm Instagram: @santupechaRead More

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