In this exclusive interview with mid-day, rumoured couple Erica Fernandes and Shaheer Sheikh speak about enjoying each other's company, but only on set of 'Kuch Rang Pyar Ke Aise Bhi'
Erica Fernandes and Shaheer Sheikh
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"But, what can she do? She's just a mother who is very close to her son," says actor Shaheer Sheikh in support of his screen mother played by Supriya Pilgaonkar on Kuch Rang Pyar Ke Aise Bhi. Sheikh, who plays a young businessman, credits the director's vision for the show's distinguishing character.
"When I was approached for the part, I wasn't looking to do a daily show. But I realised they were keen to keep it different, without portraying characters as black and white. Every character on the show has a journey. I was impressed that here was someone who was willing to make something subtle for Indian television," he says.
His co-star Erica Fernandes interrupts the conversation in support: "We don't have that triple look thing happening," she says, dramatising her point by three head turns, as the two break into giggles.
Off screen, Shaheer Sheikh and Erica Fernandes aren't very different from the way they are on it. But they will skirt every question that concerns their more than evident camaraderie. Sheikh, 33, with acting experience spanning 12 years, is protective of Fernandes, 24, who worked in the South film industry before her Hindi television debut. "I tell her to simultaneously focus on her YouTube channel," Sheikh says, referring to the makeup channel that Fernandes runs.
Getting used to TV wasn't easy at first. "We shoot 15 scenes a day, compared to two or three that we would can on a film set," she says. But Sheikh's support and friendship made things easier. "We clicked instantly, hit it off on the first day. I'm glad to be working with him," she smiles.
For Sheikh, this show is one among a bagful of commitments, most of them interestingly in the Indonesian film and television industry. The actor travels to Indonesia once a month to complete his commitments, which also include reality TV. He says he has another Indonesian movie in his kitty after the 2015 production, Turis Romantis.
The period film demands that Sheikh deliver elaborate dialogues in a language he is still getting accustomed to. "I spend a lot of time learning my dialogues so that when it comes to performing the scene, I can focus on my act, and not fumble with words. Earlier, I found it hard to emote, but after working on Indonesian films, I have got better at it," he says.
Given their admiration for their craft, it's surprising that an acting stint doesn't crop up when we ask them about what they wish to do next. Saying that he bagged his dream role when he played Arjun in the mythological television series, Mahabharat (2013), Sheikh now wishes to focus on web production — a comedy, in fact. Fernandes meanwhile, wishes to devote more time to her makeup channel.
Photos: From reel to real! 16 TV couples who fell in love on sets
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