Giaa Manek on what keeps her going beyond the dream world of telly soaps and her take on love

Confident, outspoken and vivacious describesGiaa Manek best in real life. Giaa seems to have done a 360 degree turn ever since she shed her telly bahu garb, and seems like a livewire. Best known as the first Gopi bahu Giaa who has also shaken a leg in a dance reality show was inAhmedabad to promote her new show Jeannie Aur Juju.

As we sit down to talk, we quiz Giaa about how she has overcome all the controversies (she was reportedly asked to leave her debut show because she defied the channel's request and participated in a dance show on a rival broadcaster) Giaa insists that she is a in a mood to give it back.

"I have become more confident as an actor and have learnt to express. I was quite disturbed and upset when almost overnight everyone was bad mouthing me as an actress and calling me all sorts of names. I have never faced something like this in my life before. Of course, majority of the news that was spread was false — I remained tight lipped and so everyone said whatever came to their mind. It is only me, the channel and the production house who know the actual problem. Even if I am no longer Gopi, Kanhaji is with me," she expresses.

From a sobbing bahu to a smiling genie, Giaa says that her current show is a great change for her. "I only smile these days. I have stopped crying on screen. As an actress I am happy with whatever role is given to me. My current show is not a slapstick comedy. The script is tight and I can be spontaneous," says this petite girl.

On the lighter side, Giaa says that if she had a genie in her life, "My travelling, make up, long shooting hours — everything would become easy. I would pack up my shoot in just two hours," she laughs.

While Giaa had been deluged with offers of family soaps, she refrained from doing them because she didn't want to play a role similar to "Gopi. I was afraid to get typecast. I don't want to play a character like Gopi again because I have done it in the past. However, if I am offered the role of a bahu with some interesting shades to her character, then I don't mind doing it. No show maker wants to take the risk of portraying me in a different light," she says and goes on to add, "TV characters have become monotonous. After Tulsi, I was the second bahu who became a national favourite. I've been a much loved telly bahu, danced in Jhalak Dhiklaja and am a genie in my new show, what more could I have asked for?"

For someone so young, Giaa's seen the highs and lows of her profession. How does it feel to be on both sides of the spectrum? "I feel truly blessed. My parents must have surely done some good deed that I have got so much love from people," says Giaa who loves to go on "dates" with her mother.

As our chat veers to her personal life, Giaa pours her heart out. "I have no inhibitions about falling in love. But having said that, it is difficult to get a good guy who will respect me and my work. I want someone who'll give me space and accept me as an actress. If I meet the right guy tomorrow, I will get married. Since I plan to continue working post marriage, I don't mind getting married anytime," says Giaa and adds, "I have seen loads of people who marry because of peer pressure — I am not someone who will do that. I feel my Mr Right is hiding somewhere and he will soon come in my life. I fall in love easily so I always take care before getting close to anyone," says the bubbly girl.