Not Gia Manek, This Actress Will Play Gopi Bahu In ‘Saath Nibhaana Saathiya 2’

After a seven-year-run, the popular TV show Saath Nibhaana Saathiya recently took over the internet again, courtesy a fun rap by Yashraj Mukhate. The hilarious video featuring Kokilaben, Gopi bahu and Rashi went viral and prompted the makers to announce the second season altogether. If reports are to be believed, the saas-bahu serial is expected to go on floors in October. Amidst all the speculations about it’s cast, reports suggest that the OG Gopi bahu, Gia Manek, won’t be a part of it.

Also read: Meet Yashraj Mukhate, The Man Who Made ‘Kokilaben’ Everyone’s New Jam

Rashmi Sharma, the show’s producer, told a media portal that Rupal Patel aka Kokilaben and the new Gopi bahu, Devoleena Bhattacharjee will reprise their roles. For the uninitiated, Gia was replaced by Devoleena overnight in 2012 after the former decided to participate in the dance reality show Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa. After a lot of discussions with the makers of the show and Cine & TV Artistes’ Association (CINTAA), she was replaced for “unprofessional conduct and breach of contract”. The makers took this call after Gia tried to convince them that she could do both. But the makers were of the opinion that this would affect her image of a soft-spoken bahu in the show.

When asked about not being approached for the second season of Saathiya, Gia said that she isn’t feeling bad at all. Talking to a media portal, the actress said, “I have lived the journey of Gopi bahu. Even when Devoleena joined the show as the new Gopi bahu, I never had any anger for her because, at the end of the day, everyone is doing their job. If not her, someone else would have done it. I don’t know much about the second season, but if they have cast Devoleena again, I am happy for her.”

She further mentioned that she is greedy as an artist and is blessed with many versatile opportunities. “I can’t be Gopi bahu all my life. Actors want to play different characters, because we don’t want to limit ourselves. If I keep playing Gopi bahu throughout my career, how will it add to my growth?” the actress said.

Also read: Kokilaben, Rashiben & Gopi Bahu React To The Viral Mashup & Here’s What They Said

The Rasode Mein Kaun Tha rap wasn’t the first clip to go viral on the internet. Before Yashraj Mukhate came up with this masterpiece, the video clip of Gia washing her husband’s laptop with detergent was also massively memed by netizens. Reacting to the viral mashup and the memes it brought along, Gia said that she is happy that the scenes from the show are getting viral even after it went off the air over three years ago.

Reportedly, besides the original cast, the makers of the show are also looking for some fresh faces for the second season. While they have already announced the comeback of the OG Kokilaben, reports suggest otherwise. In a recent interview with a leading daily, Rupal Patel said that she is happily playing the role of Meenakshi Rajvansh on Yeh Rishtey Hai Pyaar Ke and her return to Saathiya is highly unlikely. We don’t know about you, but we will prefer more of Yashraj Mukhate’s mashups rather than the serial returning to the small screen.

Featured Image: Instagram/Gia Manek