Once viral sensation Priya Varrier's 'background extra' appearance in 'Param Sundari' shocks the Internet

It’s strange how quickly stardom can turn in the film industry. One moment, you’re the country’s “national crush,” the next, you’re just another face in the crowd. That’s exactly the conversation buzzing online right now after Priya Prakash Varrier, the girl whose wink set the internet on fire in 2019, was spotted in a fleeting background role in the new Bollywood rom-com Param Sundari.

A short video of the scene is all over Instagram, X, and Reddit. In it, Priya is dressed in a red-and-white saree, silently walking in the crowd behind Sidharth Malhotra. No dialogue, no spotlight, just a blink-and-miss presence. For fans who still remember her meteoric rise, this was jarring. And it has opened up a bigger discussion about how unforgiving the film industry can be.

The Rise of the “Wink Girl”

Back in 2019, Priya Prakash Varrier became a household name overnight with a single wink. A short clip from her Malayalam debut film Oru Adaar Love went viral, catapulting her into the limelight. Memes, fan pages, news headlines, she was everywhere. Overnight, she was branded India’s sweetheart and given the rare tag of “national crush.”

But viral fame doesn’t always translate into sustained stardom. Priya did go on to act in Telugu and Malayalam projects, and later made her Hindi debut with Yaariyan 2 in 2023. She was also seen alongside Ajith Kumar in Good Bad Ugly. And she has upcoming films like 3 Monkeys and Love Hackers. Yet, none of these roles recreated the magic of that one wink.

So when fans spotted her as an uncredited extra in Param Sundari, the contrast between her initial fame and her current position hit hard.

Fans React: From Shock to Sympathy

The internet had plenty to say once the cameo was noticed. Some were simply surprised. “I thought only I noticed, but I’m glad someone else did too,” one user wrote. Others were more critical, questioning why a once-viral star would agree to a non-speaking role. A few even speculated if she originally had a bigger part that got chopped off in the editing room.

What really stung for fans was the placement. Param Sundari is set partly in Kerala, and Janhvi Kapoor plays a Malayali girl opposite Sidharth Malhotra. This led some viewers to question why a Malayali actress like Priya was relegated to the background instead of being cast in a more significant role. “She deserved Janhvi’s role,” one comment bluntly said.

The reactions reflect something larger, the discomfort audiences feel when someone who was once at the center of pop culture suddenly fades into the margins. It’s less about that one cameo and more about what it represents.

Stardom, Survival, and the Bollywood Machine

Priya’s case is hardly unique. Bollywood has a long history of actors rising and falling in the blink of an eye. The industry thrives on trends, hype, and the next big thing. Viral fame can be intoxicating, but it’s not always sustainable. Param Sundari itself hasn’t exactly helped matters. Despite the buzz around Sidharth and Janhvi pairing up for the first time, the film has received mixed reviews and is struggling to find its footing at the box office. From being a leading face of viral culture to appearing silently in the background, Priya’s cameo is almost symbolic of the larger truth: in cinema, success is fragile, attention spans are short, and even the brightest spotlights can dim overnight.

Still, her story isn’t over. She has upcoming films lined up, and if anything, this controversy has put her name back in conversations.

Param Sundari's journey

Tushar Jalota’s Param Sundari is a rom-com that brings together Sidharth Malhotra and Janhvi Kapoor for the first time. The story follows Param, a Delhi boy, and Sundari, a Malayali girl, as they navigate a cross-cultural romance set against the backdrop of Kerala. Despite its vibrant setting and star cast, the film has opened to mixed reviews and is struggling at the box office.