Nikhil grew up in East Vancouver, attending a recipient school of the city's Adopt-a-School program before moving to the North Delta/Surrey area. Born to immigrant parents, he put himself through school and is the only one of his friends/family to pursue a legal career. He earned an economics degree from the University of Toronto and attended law school at the University of British Columbia. Nikhil worked for the legal team of a major airport and clerked at the Supreme Court of British Columbia, prior to joining one of Canada's leading national law firms.