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.”