JOIN OUR WHATSAPP CHANNEL
EXCLUSIVE: YRHPK's Shaheer Sheikh gets candid about birthday plans, being a globe trotter, playing Abir & more
As Shaheer Sheikh turns a year older today, we caught up with the handsome actor and birthday boy who revealed why he doesn't enjoy celebrating birthdays so much, what made him say yes to Abir, how does it feel not prepping up too much for a role and more. Read EXCLUSIVE interview.
"Live and Let Live", many people only talk about but very few follow. Shaheer Sheikh, who is currently making everyone go weak in their knees with his hot looks as Abir in the show Yeh Rishtey Hain Pyaar Ke, is one of the firm believers of the phrase. The actor is a heartthrob of the TV industry and an equally inspiring personality otherwise. Any conversation with him is full of laughter, wisdom and candid answers. As Shaheer turns a year older today, we caught up with the handsome actor and birthday boy who revealed why he doesn't enjoy celebrating birthdays so much, what made him say yes to Abir, how does it feel not prepping up too much for a role and more.
Excerpts from our conversation:
What are your birthday plans for the day?
If you know me, I have hardly celebrated my birthday ever. Maybe sometimes for fans but otherwise NO. Sometimes, some of my close friends have surprised me with cakes, but even they have given up now as they have realised I don't enjoy it so much.
But why not? Usually, people love birthdays and are looking forward to it?
I am that kind of a person who doesn't want to be at the center of attention (smiles). If I have to act in front of the camera, it is different but if I am in a room and everyone is cheering and clapping for me, then I don't want to be in that room. I don't take compliments very well, It makes me feel extremely awkward. Sometimes though, if celebrating my birthday makes someone happy, then I can be there but I don't enjoy it so much (sighs).
Given that your show YRHPK launched just a few days back, do you have a birthday wish with regards to the show?
I always say I wish for things but I never plan it because I believe that it is he [god] who plans and it is he [god] who grants the wishes. I am not very particular about dates also. I haven't wished my parents on their birthday sometimes and even they have forgotten at times. I think it is in the genes (laughs). We are not good with dates. I believe that if you have to be happy in life, you don't have to wait for a particular date to feel happy about it. I am alive, have a roof on my head, can walk and can arrange a meal for myself, I think these reasons are enough for me to celebrate life every day.
That's exactly how your Instagram profile looks like. Celebrating life, traveling. Were you always a travel buff or you have started exploring it recently?
It's always been there. You can never change the base, the core of the person and my character Abir is so much like that. I was surprised, in fact, shocked I must say when Rajan Shahi (Producer) narrated the character to me. People are really fed up of me for not carrying my phone around because whenever they call me, I never reply. I believe that the first person you need to keep happy is yourself. You should be happy, you should do what you want to do and if you are happy only then you can have a positive effect on others and I completely believe in this. Bonus is Abir shares the same traits.
How does it feel not preparing for a role after such a long time?
(EXCLAIMS) Oh yeah, trust me! It is such a new experience. I feel so relaxed, happy about it that I don't have to continuously think about it and be in my character, think about my body posture, think about what tone I have to speak in. If you see, how I speak in Salim Anarkali and Kuch Rang Pyaar Ke Aise Bhi is completely different and even Arjun in Mahabharata, it was all so different. To keep a track of your actions and be in that character throughout is not easy and I am happy that now I am doing something which is more relaxed.
Your relationship with your mother in YRHPK is said to be a bit conflicted. On the other hand, you played a mama's boy in KRPKAB, how different is it?
That's what excited me, it is very different from what I have played till now. It is different in the sense that I have always been this nice guy, who is a good son, a good husband, wanting to be at least and very cultured, disciplined in life. This is nothing like that. Abir is always flying against the wind. He has a very strong point of view which he makes sure to put across. He will never keep his mouth shut even if it lands him in trouble.
ALSO READ: Happy Birthday Shaheer Sheikh: 5 reasons why the Yeh Rishtey Hain Pyaar Ke actor is par excellence
Is Shaheer the same in real life?
Pretty much. I can relate to the character so much.
Given that you are such a celebrated actor yourself and being a part of a show which is a spin-off of the longest running show, a legacy in short, do you think your popularity acts as an added pressure?
I think that (popularity) affected Salim Anarkali a bit but don't think this will affect YRHPK so much. This is a show about the difficulty a girl from a small town might have to go through while she is in that phase of getting married or choosing a partner of her life. That also makes it a little more relaxed for me and that is exactly what I wanted to do in this phase of my life. I will try to keep it as natural, realistic as possible. We don't have many shows like these on TV anymore. It is either intense drama or supernatural shows, and I think TV plays a very important role in shaping the opinions of people and we need to teach them good things as well.
Are you saying you would never do a supernatural show?
Never say never. I said never last time (laughs).
Here's wishing Shaheer, a very happy and fantabulous birthday!
Latest Articles
