Shaheer Sheikh On Turning Down Bollywood Offers: 'If I Am Committed To A TV Show, I Will Not Leave It For A Film'- EXCLUSIVE
Here's Shaheer Sheikh talking about his show Yeh Rishtey Hai Pyaar Ke going off air and how he has refused Bollywood offers as he was always commited to a television show when the films were offered
TV star Shaheer Sheikh's ongoing show, Yeh Rishtey Hain Pyaar Ke is going off-air soon. The show is set to be replaced by season 2 of Saath Nibhana Saathiya and the news has disappointed his fans completely. They have been constantly demanding for its extension on social media.
We spoke to the actor on his show going off air, plans about Bollywood and more. Here's what all he revealed to us:
Were you expecting Yeh Rishtey Hain Pyaar Ke to end so soon?
In a way, yeah! Ratings were low, so somewhere we saw it coming. But we were not prepared for this day or expecting anything.
The show managed to win the audience heart and get numbers from the start. So, what according to you was the reason for the numbers to dip later?
It was a concept driven show and it raised quite a few issues from our society which were very relevant. The journey of the characters was also liked by the audience. It was only after lockdown that we didn't get good numbers on TV but the response online was really good and they were liking the track digitally. Honestly, I don't understand the algorithm of numbers. Why does it decline. Whenever my director and producer discuss it, I always tell them I don't understand these numbers. Something I say will not work, works later and when I strongly believe in something and say this is very good, we will definitely go in first position, then it doesn't work. So, I really don't understand what actually works in daily soaps.
Fans are not ready to accept the end of the show and have been constantly trending #GIVEYRHPKExtension on social media. What do you feel about it?
I feel absolutely humbled. This is the only show which I got ready to do for more than one year and that's because of the kindness of the producer Rajan Shahi and his whole unit. If the show would have actually got an extension and Rajan sir would have asked me to do it for one more year, I would have done it. He is a producer who is always there for you. You call him to share any problem and it is solved in minutes and that made me feel so comfortable. I started feeling like a family.
Is the last day of the shoot been informed to the team?
Not yet. I guess we have more than 14-15 episodes to shoot.
What are you going to miss the most after the wrap up of the show?
I have been doing daily soaps for the last 11 years and it has become my life. And after doing this show, I realised if the time duration is longer, then you get more attached to it. It has become a way of life. The thought that you wake up in the morning and realise you don't have to go to the set itself makes you feel emotional. I am sure it will take some time initially to accept this but as we say life moves on and I am sure I will get used to it later.
You are a TV star in demand. Is that the reason you are keeping yourself away from other platforms like Bollywood and OTT?
I feel I am an actor and I don't really categorize the platforms. If someone offers me something I will definitely accept it. The people who I have worked with till now know it that if they give me a character which excites me, I try to do my hundred percent to do justice to the character. That is my approach.
So, you haven't been offered an exciting project till now from Bollywood yet?
No, there have been things offered to me and there are so many people who have been nice to me for all these years. Like a few years back, I got offered a film but that time I had already said yes for a TV show titled Dastaan-E-Mohabbat Salim Anarkali. So, I told the person who wanted to cast me that I am already in talks for a TV show and if I would have not committed to them, I would have done the film. He also in a very positive way understood my situation. Another instance was a few months back, somebody wanted to sign me for something and I had no idea when YRHPK would get over, so I had refused that too.
Go On...
Go On...
I feel that timing is very important and whenever something I deserve will come my way things will automatically fall in place. I am someone who stands by his words. If I have promised a TV producer that I will do your show for these many years, I can't later tell him that I have got a movie project now and I want to leave your show. That is wrong on every level for me.
Image source: Instagram/shaheernsheikh
