'Sushant, you will always be Manav’: Shaheer Sheikh pens emotional note on playing SSR's role in Pavitra Rishta 2

Actor Shaheer Sheikh is set to take over for late actor Sushant Singh Rajput in the television drama Pavitra Rishta as Manav. In Pavitra Rishta 2, Sheikh will play Manav, with Ankita Lokhande reprising her role as Archana and Usha Nadkarni reprising her role as Savita. The actor shared a note on Instagram expressing his feelings when he was offered the Ekta Kapoor role.

Sheikh wrote, “When I was first approached for PR2, I was taken aback. Who in their right frame of mind, would dare to play a character immortalised by Sushant Singh Rajput.. I too was reluctant. Then I thought, knowing Sushant he was one to take every challenge head on. And so I decided that while it is scary to step into his shoes & live upto audience expectations… it is scarier to NOT even try.”

The actor said, "I did what I thought Sushant Singh Rajput would do and accepted the challenge."“And so I did what I felt he would do, if he was in my position. I took the challenge. When the team told me they wanted someone who was earnest so that we could all tell a story that was a fitting homage to Sushant’s legacy… I decided to give it my all and leave the rest to the audiences and to The All Mighty,” he added.

Sushant will always be Manav, and no one can change that, Shaheer Sheikh wrote at the end of his note.“Working with a team that loved & respected him immensely only adds to the genuine intent in all our hearts. Sushant, you will always be Manav. Nothing can change that & no one can replace that. I may not be as good, and I may not do justice to it like you did, but I promise to give it my ALL. 🙏 #pavitrarishta2."

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The starcast have already started shooting and recently the team shared some photos on Instagram.Ankita and Shaheer are shown posing in character with a clapboard in the series' showing first look of the series. The two are dressed like characters and bring back a lot of memories from the programme. In the caption, the makers of the show wrote, "Sometimes in most ordinary lives, we find the most extraordinary love story. Witness the extraordinary love story of Manav and Archana. #PavitraRishta Filming begins; streaming soon on #ALTBalaji.”

Pavitra Rishta 2 will stream on ZEE5 and ALTBalaji.