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

Shaheer Sheikh one of TVrsquos more popular faces has been busy juggling multiple projects like Pavitra Rishta 2 with Ankita Lokhande Kuch Rang Pyar Ke Aise Bhi opposite Erica Fernandes while simultaneously shooting for music videos as well The new dad tells middaycom all about what he has been up toNow that the third season of Kuch Rang Pyar Ke Aise Bhi has been on air for a while what are the reactions you have been gettingThe audience loved the first season so we were expected to do better or at least as good as that season The essence of the show is that it is very real and deals with issues that we face in everyday life Shows rarely touch the aftermarriage part issues couples deal with after they have kids Irsquom learning so much from the show and feel itrsquos important to have a serial like this back on screen and the reactions have been positiveWhat were your thoughts about the new twist with Dev and Sonakshirsquos child who was lost at birth returning to their livesThe writers were looking for something that creates a distance between Dev and Sonakshi before they eventually come back together So I felt they would have to crack this initial twist It was quite tricky for the writers to come up with something that is real and justified it should not look trivial They took the cinematic liberty to do something dramatic while still trying to keep it real Initially the twist was difficult for me to accept as well but the makers told me about one such real incident that happened in Delhi Thatrsquos how I got convinced and we went ahead with this trackAs you said Kuch Ranghellip believes in keeping it real You all recently had a track about marriage counseling as wellhellipWe are trying to show it as not something that is taboo people can take that approach Going for counseling doesnrsquot mean there something wrong with you mentally Even if there is itrsquos like going to the doctor We are putting it out there and hoping the message passes on to the audienceYou have been shooting for Pavitra Rishta at the same time so how did you transform from Dev to ManavThatrsquos what I found exciting an actor would always like to do different characters I wondered how I could make Manav look different the aura canrsquot be the same The way he walks the way he talks everything had to be different Surprisingly I didnrsquot have to put in much effort The moment I got into costumes on the sets I would just become Manav It has a lot to do with the environment you are in and the clothes you are wearing it makes your mind believe you are the characterHow did you prepare yourself for comparisons to Sushant Singh Rajput since viewers were attached to his chemistry Ankita Lokhande on Pavitra RishtaThat is why I was not really sure in the beginning The show has been such a big hit and itrsquos a romantic series They Sushant and Ankita were really liked as a couple so it was difficult to make people believe that I am Manav Later I realised another actor Hiten Tejwani had played Manav too and now itrsquos me The main thing that gave me confidence was when Usha tai Usha Nadkarni and Ankita accepted me as Manav Initially I was very nervous because I was not trying to copy anyone or do it in a particular way I wanted the character to be as natural as possible I was not sure how people would react to my roleDid having a supportive costar like Ankita make things a bit easierOf course She has worked on the show for six years and they know the show more than anyone else Ankita helped me understand the show and the graph of my character along with mannerisms She would object to things she felt Manav would never do In the first season if I tucked in my shirt she would point out that Manav would never dress like that Things like that helped me to get the character rightAlso read Shaheer Sheikh I dont want to be the biggest starYou have also been doing music videos recently that were well received Is it something you enjoy as wellItrsquos like a breather you get from your daily routine by visiting a different location for two days Itrsquos not emotionally challenging because I donrsquot have to get into a character Itrsquos more relaxed and doesnrsquot demand too much At the same time I get to travel and meet new people I really like that formatYour music video with Hina Khan lsquoBaarish Ban Jaanarsquo became popular and now you are teaming up for the second timehellipShersquos an amazing costar We have already shot our second video and it should release in a month but Irsquom very excited for that video as well Hina is very hard working and gives it her all every second she keeps thinking about what improvisations can be made in the project Thatrsquos how her mind works and when you have such people around you even you want to give more to your work Shersquos very motivating for everyone on setHow excited are you about the OTT boomItrsquos very exciting because people are experimenting with new concepts If anybody thinks I can do justice to the role Irsquom sitting here get in touch with me Irsquoll be more than happy to play the part laughsAlso read Ankita Lokhande on Pavitra Rishta 2 Nobody can replace Sushant Singh Rajput on the show