Shaheer Sheikh: Earlier, nobody would consider telly artistes for movies

Ankita Lokhande plays Archana opposite Shaheer Sheikh’s character Manav

Walking into Pavitra Rishta: It's Never Too Late, Shaheer Sheikh knew of the comparisons that would follow. In 2009, the Ekta Kapoor show had been the launchpad of the late Sushant Singh Rajput, with the love story of Manav and Archana immediately endearing him to the masses. This, coupled with the raging success of the first season, meant that Sheikh had a lot of expectations riding on his shoulders.

He admits that the legacy of the show made him nervous about fronting the sequel. "I was a bit nervous initially because it's a big responsibility. All the characters on the show have been loved, and I am the only addition to the cast. So, I was not sure [of joining the project] in the beginning. But then, I thought I should at least give it a try, and see how the audience responds."

With the ZEE5 offering that sees Ankita Lokhande reprise her iconic role of Archana, the makers want to give it a fresh take while setting the story in the same universe. "The character [of Manav] and the way he dresses up is the same. The makers [felt] I had the earnestness and innocence that Manav needs. I had to [be true to the character] mentally and emotionally. I tried to make it as real as possible, and didn't ham or imitate anyone."

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Quiz him if he was among the millions watching Pavitra Rishta religiously when it aired, and the actor says that his busy schedule didn't afford him the opportunity. "I was doing a daily soap at that time. Pavitra Rishta went on for more than five years; I had seen some of the episodes. I have clear memories of the show, especially the love story between Manav and Archana."

With the immense popularity of the 2009 show, Rajput had caught the attention of many filmmakers, eventually foraying into movies with Abhishek Kapoor's Kai Po Che (2013). The actor's transition from television to films was an important statement in itself - until then, a wide chasm separated the two industries, with television being considered Bollywood's poor cousin. Sheikh says that Rajput, with his success in films, single-handedly changed the perception of TV actors. "Sushant was the one who broke the barriers and started doing films. He became an inspiration for actors like me, and opened new doors for us. Earlier, nobody would consider a telly artiste for a big budget movie. But after Sushant moved to films, people started getting in touch with me [to headline movies]. That's the kind of effect he had on the industry."

Over the past decade, Sheikh has become one of the leading actors of the telly world, with several hit shows to his credit. How does he view the content of Indian television, often called out for being regressive? "I disagree [with the notion]. It's challenging to entertain families every single evening, for years. That said, I agree our TV industry needs to evolve a little more. We had good content about 20 years ago, but it depends on what we choose to watch. We have to choose our content well."

Also Read: 'The moment I got into costume on the Pavitra Rishta sets, I became Manav'