After a seven-year hiatus, actress Puja Sharma is back — and she’s returning with fire in her eyes. Known for her memorable roles in Naagin, Jyoti, Dil Se Dil Tak, Mere Angne Mein, and Devon Ke Dev Mahadev, Puja now steps into uncharted territory with Star Plus’ Jhanak, playing Kanka — a fierce, grey-shaded tribal woman from a Naxalite backdrop.

“I’ve played positive leads before, but Kanka is raw, volatile, and emotionally layered,” she shares. “What made it even more special is how personal it felt. I grew up in Jharkhand, surrounded by tribal women who worked in our home — strong, grounded women whose spirit I’ve always admired. I didn’t need to ‘prepare’ for Kanka — I just had to feel her.”

In Jhanak, which recently took a leap, Kanka is introduced as a powerful force within a tribal community deeply distrustful of outsiders. Her soft spot for the head of the tribe — someone she’s known since childhood — adds a surprising emotional core to an otherwise fiery character. “Kanka doesn’t play nice — and I love that about her,” Puja says. “It’s the kind of role I was waiting for — not sugar-coated, not safe.”

The sabbatical, she says, was crucial. “It made me sharper, more grounded. But yes, I missed the chaos of sets, the adrenaline of performance. I needed something bold to come back for — and Jhanak gave me just that.”

Having started her journey with Tujh Sang Preet Lagai Sajna on Star Plus in 2008, Puja calls this a “full-circle moment.” Off-screen too, she’s been a recognizable face, having starred in popular ad campaigns for Surf Excel, Sugarfree, Zomato, Sapat Adulsa, Celkon Phones, and Classmate Notebooks.

But now, the ad-glam has made way for grit — and Puja Sharma is all set to reintroduce herself with the kind of intensity that’s hard to ignore.