Malick Asghar Hashmi/New Delhi

Niharika Reddy, an established actor in Telugu films, and the owner of a flourishing fashion and interior design businesses should be too busy to enter her kitchen and that too to cook for 150 persons daily.

She has been doing it – cooking meals for 100-150 persons - each day since the Covid-19 first manifested as a major public health issue a year ago.

She along with her film writer-director husband Kann, their two young children Aishwarya and Yeshiva Reddy, her sisters and other members of her extended family prepares meals for 100-150 people daily. Some are seen chopping vegetables, others take lead in cooking while a few others are happy to pack the meals for eventual distribution.

This is the scene at the Reddy household every morning.

The family transports the food packets to the homes of those who are quarantined after being hit by Covid-19. Such patients are generally unable to cook while others including their blood relatives are afraid of coming forward to help them.

Speaking to the Awaz-the Voice, Niharika Reddy said, "We are able to reach the people who are quarantined in their homes with the help of some volunteers who deliver the food.”

Most of the food packets are distributed in the areas of Banjara Hills and Jubilee Hills of Hyderabad.

Niharika says she makes it a point to change the menu each day and not cook the same kind of food every day. For example, someday the meal comprises rice, chapati, sponge gourd, salad, juice, apple and a packed glass of water. The next day it’s tomato rice, paneer, soybean vegetable, salad, raita, dates or ladoos. Another menu is mint rice, mixed vegetables, yoghurt, salad, dry fruit ladoos etc.

Niharika says that her daughter Aishwarya is an active member in the kitchen as the meal is prepared.

Niharika Reddy and her daughter Aishwarya in the kitchen

Niharika has acted in more than 10 Telugu films so far. She owns a design company called Niharika's Design Studio that has clients from mostly the South Indian film fraternity.

Niharika was recently honoured by Khwaja Afridi of Sarangi Foundation for her social service.

Niharika says that her children are deeply influenced by her. Recently, they donated Rs 43,000 that they had saved from their pocket money to an institution.

In a conversation over the phone, she said it’s not difficult for her to take time out for social service despite being busy with films. “I love social service and films; can’t live without both."

Niharika Reddy's family helping in the preparation and packing of food.

She says, "The second wave is more dangerous; the sick are also looking more upset.” Also since all the shooting and other film-related works have come to a standstill due to the pandemic she has enough time and therefore increased the number of meals the family cooks for those in distress.

At the Reddy household, soon after waking up all members gets busy with the mission. The food must be well cooked and delivered in time for those in pain and isolation.

She has also posted her personal mobile number 9701821089 on social media for the people to contact her for the food.

Niharika’s selfless service in such hard times has also been praised by South Indian film superstar Allu Arjun by who put it out on Twitter:

Dilwali hai niharika

Niharika Reddy is called 'Dilwali Niharika' in the South Indian film industry and there is a story on how she got this sobriquet. In 2016, Niharika had hired a 24-year-old maid, Nagamma, to take care of her children.

Niharika with her family packing food

Soon, Nagamma fell ill and she was diagnosed with renal failure – her both kidneys had stopped working. In order to live, she would need someone to donate her a kidney.

Many in Niharika’s situation would have probably left the maid to her fate and moved on.

Niharika Reddy being herself, she immediately called her parents who lived in Peddapalli to Hyderabad. Nagma's father is paralyzed and the family had no resources to treat her. They gave up and left everything on fate.

Niharika decided to get Nagamma back on her feet.

She took financial help from some of her friends. With this money, Nagamma’s treatment started. Nagamma was put on dialysis for which Nihirika paid all the expenses amounting to Rs 1.5 lakh.  

She got her name registered in an organization called 'Jeevan Daan, Ang Daan' to find a suitable donor.

Niharika also sought help from the IT Minister of Telangana in this.

So far she has managed to raise Rs 4 lakh and has already posted an advertisement for a kidney donor for Nagamma. She is confident of raising Rs 2 lakh more required for Nagamma’s kidney transplant.

In the meanwhile, she is taking care of Nagamma at her home.