Daijiworld Media Network - Mumbai
Mumbai, Sep 7: Actress Kanika Mann, who has been receiving appreciation for her recent stint in Naagin 7, has entered the Bigg Boss 20 house, saying she wants to challenge the perception that celebrities turn to the reality show only when their careers need a boost. Mann became the first contestant to enter the house during the season's grand premiere on September 6.
In an exclusive conversation with mid-day, Mann opened up about overcoming her fear of captive reality shows, her competitive side and her decision to participate in the show at a time when she believes her career is flourishing.
Mann admitted that the idea of being locked inside the Bigg Boss house initially made her apprehensive. "I was always scared of captive reality shows," she said, explaining that she eventually began looking at the opportunity differently. She said that when a person is afraid of something, either the fear eventually disappears or the opportunity itself goes away, and she did not want to regret missing out.
Instead of allowing fear to dictate her decision, Mann chose to embrace the experience and see where it takes her. She said she would not know what works for her unless she tried it, adding that she wanted to overcome her fear and give the opportunity a chance.
For Mann, Bigg Boss was the obvious choice if she wanted to experience a captive reality show. "Of course, if you want to do a captive reality show, then Bigg Boss is the biggest show. It gives you everything. It gives you love, it gives you drama, it gives you fame," she said.
The actress also wants to dispel what she described as a common myth that celebrities participate in Bigg Boss only when they need a career revival. Mann pointed to her current professional commitments to explain why she chose to enter the show now.
"I must say that things have been really amazing for me in terms of my career. One of my films is releasing on September 25 when I will be locked in the BB house. Then one of my films is releasing in January. So, I am at a great spot in my career front," she said.
With Naagin 7 also receiving a strong response, Mann said she wanted to prove that participating in Bigg Boss does not necessarily mean an actor is looking for a career boost. "I really want to show people that even when my career is booming, I can do a show like Bigg Boss, it isn't about getting a boost," she said.
Mann said she had been in discussions about entering Bigg Boss for years but had previously struggled to imagine herself in the show's confined environment. This year, however, she decided to take the plunge and give herself the opportunity to experience something outside her usual professional routine.
She also described herself as competitive and said she intends to give the show her best. According to Mann, her competitive nature is not limited to the Bigg Boss house but is part of her personality in everyday life as well.
Calling Bigg Boss a "social experiment", Mann said the show's biggest attraction for her is the opportunity to disconnect completely from the outside world. Contestants spend around three to three-and-a-half months without phones or the usual pressures of their lives outside the house.
"There is no phone, there is no other pressure," she said, adding that the experience could help contestants understand themselves better. For Mann, entering the show while her acting career is progressing gives her a chance to test herself and discover how she responds to an environment completely removed from her normal life.
Mann began her television career in 2016 and went on to feature in shows including Badho Bahu and Guddan Tumse Na Ho Payega. She also participated in Khatron Ke Khiladi 12 in 2022. Her entry into Bigg Boss 20 comes after her recent appearance in Naagin 7, where she played a dragon character.