Aadhya Anand on playing Tanya Arora in Knock Knock Kaun Hai: This role followed me off-screen too

Time of India

17-06-2025

Aadhya Anand
Having started her screen journey at a young age,
Aadhya Anand
has steadily made her presence felt with series like
Crushed
and
Bombay Begums
. Known largely for playing the soft-spoken, girl-next-door archetype, she recently made a stark departure from that image in the psychological thriller
Knock Knock Kaun Hai
? The shift into a far more complex and emotionally intense space not only challenged her as an actor but also left a lasting impact on her off-camera life.
Speaking about the transition into a genre she has long admired, Aadhya says the experience pushed her creatively in ways she hadn't encountered before. She shares, 'Psychological thrillers have always been one of my favourite genres to watch, so getting the opportunity to be part of one was both exciting and creatively challenging. It pushed me out of my comfort zone and opened up new doors in terms of exploring my emotional range.'
In Knock Knock Kaun Hai?, she plays Tanya Arora — a character marked by emotional conflict and high personal stakes. Stepping into her shoes meant moving beyond surface-level performance and committing fully to the inner world of the role. She explains, 'There's a certain depth and complexity in this genre. Every scene demands complete emotional honesty. It's not just about memorising lines — it's about diving deep into the psyche of your character. I had to spend a lot of time understanding her motivations, fears, and internal conflicts. Every moment on screen had to carry weight.'
While the project allowed her to grow as a performer, it came with its share of emotional and physical strain. The intensity of the material made it difficult to detach from the character once the cameras stopped rolling. 'There were scenes that demanded intense emotional investment, and that didn't just stay on set. There were days I'd feel mentally dazed or emotionally heavy even after wrap-up because of how deeply I had to tap into raw spaces,' she shares.
Tanya's journey also involved physical exertion — something Aadhya hadn't dealt with to this extent in earlier roles. She says, 'My character constantly fights for what she wants, and that physicality led to a few injuries on set too. But when you're in the moment, you don't realise it until it's over.'
Perhaps the most enduring impact, she notes, came from the emotional fatigue that builds up when living inside such a demanding role day after day. 'Pouring so much into a scene, then doing multiple takes — it drains you. And there's barely any recovery time before you're back on camera,' she shares.
For Aadhya, who has often portrayed softer, more restrained characters, stepping into Tanya's world felt like entering uncharted territory. But instead of resisting the challenge, she embraced the chance to redefine her on-screen image. 'I'd always done the shy, innocent type. This was a stark contrast. It challenged me to break old patterns and explore a very different side of myself as a performer,' she says, adding, 'But that's the beauty of acting — it demands hard work and complete surrender.'