Manish Rai Singhania is in news these days. For many reasons. One of them being cast opposite balika vadhu Avika Gor in Sasural Simar Ka. Understandably, Singhania is all excited about this. "Don't you dare call her a child artiste! She will kill you. Avika is a young lady and she is truly a pleasure to work and interact with. But I must admit that when I was first informed that she would be opposite me, I was shocked. I had never met her and somehow the image of the little girl in Balika Vadhu was overpowering," he says. So surprised was the actor that he actually asked the production house about Avika's age. When he was told that Avika is 14 years old, Singhani's reaction was that she is less than half his age! "Then I was informed that she is no longer the baby Avika and is a grown up girl now! When I met her, I was completely convinced that she is no longer a child artiste. She has matured in every aspect and is a fantastic actress. She even tells me every now and then – 'Manish, grow up!'! We have become good friends now. It is a real pleasure working with her," says Manish.