Kanika Mann on playing the antagonist in Naagin 7: I wanted something layered and unpredictable

Kanika Mann, best known for her popular turn as Guddan in Guddan Tumse Na Ho Payega, has never shied away from reinventing herself, and her latest role in Naagin 7 marks a clear shift in that direction.

Known largely for her positive, emotionally expressive characters on television, Kanika is now embracing complexity as she steps into the role of the antagonist, an icchadhaari dragon. What excites her most, however, is not the label of good or evil, but the emotional truth the character brings.Talking about her approach, Kanika says, “I don’t know the definition of a negative, positive, or grey character. All I know is that my character is very human.

What truly attracted me was the honesty of the character. I have always wanted to explore roles that feel real, layered, and a little unpredictable, characters that do not fit into boxes. This character is not trying to be good or bad. She exists in a grey space, and that felt very human to me.

As actors, we grow when we allow ourselves to explore complexity, and this role offered layers I had not tapped into before. I am genuinely enjoying this space because it challenges me creatively.”

What sets this character apart from her earlier roles is the emotional restraint it demands. Kanika says, “Most of my earlier characters were emotionally expressive and wore their hearts on their sleeves. This one is very different. She is inward, restrained, and observant. Her emotions are not always spoken but felt, and that subtlety makes her unique for me as a performer.”Shows like Naagin often spark conversations and memes on social media, especially with fantasy elements like shape-shifting.

Kanika takes that reaction in her stride. She says, “I see it as a sign of how strongly the show connects with audiences today. Social media has its own language, and memes are a big part of that. I take it positively. If people are engaging and reacting, it means the character has made an impact.

My responsibility is to stay truthful to the performance, and after that, I enjoy seeing how audiences make it their own.”Speaking about her time away from television before taking on Naagin 7, Kanika clarifies, “I wouldn’t really call it a break. I created a space for myself where I could be more selective about the work I choose. Pauses help you understand yourself better and allow you to make conscious choices instead of just staying busy.”