‘Shahs of Sunset’ exclusive: GG dishes on season 3 stories, dating life, Middle East trip

On Tuesday, November 5 at 10:00 p.m. Eastern time, “Shahs of Sunset” is going to be back on Bravo with a third season that promises not only plenty of drama, but also humor, self-reflection, and an opportunity to get to know some more about of your favorite personalities. This show has quickly become a staple in the Bravo lineup, and one of their most-popular programs to not bear that “Real Housewives” moniker.

At the center of the series is Golnesa “GG” Gharachedaghi, someone who went through quite a bit on the show last year in her personal life, and also with some of her other cast members. However, she also found great success in the hair extension business, and has had an opportunity to grow and evolve as a person through all this … just all under the watchful eye of several cameras. We had a chance to talk with GG all about the upcoming season earlier this week and she dished a few details to us.

CarterMatt – Let’s start off with just talking about the upcoming season as a whole. How have things been? Are you through shooting season 3 yet?

GG – We’re done with official filming for this season; I would say that this season is definitely going to be more emotional on a personal level. It’s going to display relationship dynamics that I think that the audience would never expect to see take place. I think before it was a lot more drama-driven and very surface, and now it gets a lot deeper and very intense and relatable.

Last season we saw things get pretty tough at times with Asa and Reza, and you spent [some time away from them]. Was there a sort of nervousness or apprehension coming into this season that there was going to be more drama and fighting with [some of the cast]?

No, I don’t get nervous that easily. This season for me, I was actually much more excited just because I feel like the last couple seasons my character was portrayed in a very negative way. I was the feisty, fiery b**ch that is quick to fight. That is a big part of who I am, but there are other sides of me that I was [happy] to show existed. So I was really excited to film this season.

I know the extension line was a big story last season. How is that going, and is that something we’ll see more of?

The extension line is going really well. We have done some new stuff and made some new things for our customers. We’re responding to what our customers need right now, and we have the financial ability to do that. So we’re doing pretty d**n good, in my opinion.

One thing I’m curious about is how people react and change over time to you being on TV, especially as the show [becomes popular]. What is it like to meet people that you’ve never met who seem to know so many details about your life? It can be cool, but it can also be kind of weird.

It’s an amazing feeling when you become this person that everyone knows. I think in the beginning it’s awkward because they really think that they know you because they watch you, and they expect you to be the same way. If anything, it’s made me very humble to listen to what people are saying to me, because people connect to your character and they rely on you and the show sometimes [helps them ] to get to their [tough] times. That humbles me, and makes me a better person.

Has being on the show over the past few years started to change the way in which you live? Has it affected the way that you go out with your friends, or the way you date?

It’s definitely made me a little more cautious as to people’s motives. I’ve kind of learned that the hard way over the past few years. I’m a very open person; I put my life out there on TV or even before being on television. I’ve been burned a couple times in the past couple of years, and it’s really opened by eyes on who to bring in, who to trust, who to bring closer. That part of it sucks the most, having to always scout people and their intentions.

I know you’re dating someone now, so is there anything that you can say about that?

Yeah, it’s still new. We’ve been dating each other the past couple of months.

So is there any of it that you think will make it on the show this season?

I think a lot of people in the audience forget that these shows are filmed months in advance, so naturally people go through life and have breakups and make-ups and new relationships. So what the audience will see is a previous relationship that I was in, and watch that sort of play out.

One of the cool things that comes for you being on Bravo is that you have a sort of family that you are adopted into, really from Andy Cohen on down. Is that something that you have really enjoyed and appreciated being a part of, and have you made some new friends through that?

I think one of the great things about being on Bravo is that it’s such an amazing network for reality TV, and we all get together once a year in New York for the Bravo upfronts and we get to meet everyone … I have established some pretty good relationships with some of these other Bravo celebrities, which is awesome.

I tend to gravitate towards people who are very similar to me, in that they are very open and honest and blunt. So I guess I usually end up being friends with the biggest b***hes of each show. (Laughs.)

So what would you say to someone who has never seen ‘Shahs of Sunset’ before to try to get them to watch?

I would say that it’s exciting to see a show that’s never been seen on television before, and you get to see the richness of our culture and how deep our culture goes. This season we take an amazing trip to the Middle East, and people will get to see different sides of what it means to be Middle Eastern. Not everyone has the same concept of what Middle Eastern is, and even certain Middle Easterns don’t know the full concept of [their culture], and you’ll see that when we travel to the Middle East. I think to me that was a really exciting turning point, seeing how some of our cast responded to this trip.

That brings me to one last question I wanted to ask. I know early on that everyone, especially people in the media, want to make their preconceived notions about people or about a show. Have you noticed a change when it comes to what people or other Middle Easterns think about your show, when you look back from the beginning to where you are now?

I think that’s the biggest thing that has changed: The reaction. People didn’t know what to expect from this show. There had never been a show about Middle Easterns, so [there was anything] from actual Persian people mocking and ridiculing us before the show came on to uneducated non-Persians that only viewed us as terrorists or oil-mining people.

Now, the only reaction that I get are ‘oh my god, you guys are so hilarious’ or ‘oh my god, you guys are so great.’ The reactions from people have changed significantly.

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Thanks to GG for taking the time to chat with us! If you do want to read some more news related to “Shahs of Sunset,” just be sure to click here. We’ll have a full review of the premiere up later in the week.

Photo: Bravo