Exclusive - Kanika Mann on bagging Naagin 7, playing a negative role and comparisons with Priyanka Chahar Choudhary; says 'I am open to it'

Television actress Kanika Mann, who is returning to the fiction genre with Naagin 7, is set to play a grey character of icchadhari dragon. The actress spoke exclusively to Times of India TV, about her comeback to television and experience of working on Naagin 7. She also opened up about her emotional bond with Priyanka Chahar Choudhary and comparisons with her. Kanika shared that she is open to OTT content and has no reservations doing love making, intimate scenes. (Photo: Instagram)

I’m truly very happy to be a part of Naagin 7 and the Naagin franchise because the show itself is huge. I believe this might be the only purely fictional season among all seven, which makes it even more special. I’m extremely grateful that Ekta ma’am chose me for this role. When I heard the narration, I literally got goosebumps. I remember thinking how amazing the character was and how powerful the story felt. I’m really thankful that she trusted me with this part. (Photo: Instagram)

I want to share this because not many people get such an opportunity to sit with Ektaa Kapoor and listen to her narrate a story. Writing a show and creating it is one thing, but when she narrates it herself, she lives it. She brings every character to life while narrating. When the scene is emotional, she gets emotional too, and it brings tears to your eyes. I got goosebumps and felt deeply moved. I didn’t just feel my own character, but every character she spoke about. Listening to the narration was such a beautiful experience, and I really enjoyed it. (Photo: Instagram)

When I first heard about it from the team, I immediately said yes. A few days later, during the narration, I truly understood who the character was and how her journey would unfold. It took a few days to fully grasp her arc. Along with the challenge and thoughts about preparation, I felt a growing sense of curiosity and excitement. She explained the situations Radhika would go through, where she comes from, what happens in her life, and how her story moves forward. That made me eager to experience it all. That curiosity made me impatient to begin shooting because I wanted to truly live the character. There was never any doubt about the role or the show. (Photo: Instagram)

First of all, I’m not afraid at all. If you’ve seen my earlier interviews, you’ll know that whenever I’m asked what kind of roles I want to explore, I’ve always said I’m keen to do grey or darker shades. If given the opportunity, I’d happily take it up. But when it comes to this character, I honestly can’t label her as negative. There’s a lot of chatter suggesting she’s playing a negative role, but that’s not true. I can’t place her in any single category. She’s extremely layered and complex, truly a multi-dimensional character with immense depth. Trying to define her with one tag would be unfair and would do injustice to who she really is. In many ways, she feels like a real person, just like us. This character is very real like you and me so it is not negative at all, I can say it is a grey role. (Photo: Instagram)

We don’t have many scenes together, but even beyond the scenes, we spend time with each other. We sit together in the same van, and when someone comes to call us, they already know that either Radhika or Ananta will be together. They just ask for both of us at once. Working like this is genuinely fun. Now that we have grown and gained experience, we understand how important comfort is while working with a co-actor. When two people understand each other well, work automatically becomes easier. Communication flows naturally, and acting is really all about communication. (Photo: Instagram)

There’s also an emotional bond between us as we have been friends for almost ten years. It feels good to see her grow, and I know she feels the same about me. She genuinely enjoys it. She has always encouraged me. She constantly motivates me and never misses a chance to praise me. When we sit together, she’ll say things like, “Look at your beautiful eyes,” or “Your kohl looks so nice,” or even, “You apply lipstick so well.” That’s just how she is. She keeps pushing me in a positive way, telling me that I’m doing well and improving. Ours is a healthy, positive friendship with no insecurity at all. She focuses on her work, and I’m giving my best too. (Photo: Instagram)

I think we all do this. When we watch a film and see two actresses, we often say that one looked better or performed better than the other. Even we speak like this. It’s very human, and we are all the same in that way. Because this happens so naturally, I feel we should take it in a positive and healthy manner. I find it quite interesting because it means people are talking more. The show is being watched, discussed, and noticed. Everyone is talking about the same things, and that’s actually a good sign. I am open to comparisons and it excites me a lot. In the end, I feel it’s going to be a win-win situation for all of us, and I’m genuinely looking forward to it. (Photo: Instagram)

I am open to everything, honestly. In real life, I am one person, and Kanika is a different person. As an actor, when I say yes to a project, it’s because I like the story and I like the character. There is always room to discuss things and reach a middle ground that works for both the makers and the actors. I don’t feel any hesitation or discomfort about such projects. I have never said no to a narration or an audition. I attend all auditions and listen to all narrations. After that, we decide together whether it is possible to do it or not. The team usually gives their inputs, and then we move forward. I truly don’t have any personal reservations. I am completely open. Right now, one Punjabi film and one Oriya film are also coming up. (Photo: Instagram)