TOI: Shaheer wants to experience love

Known as the chocolate boy of the small screen, lawyer-turned-actor Shaheer Sheikh didn't dream of becoming an actor. "I was happy being a lawyer and the thought of becoming a model or even actor never came to my mind, even though I knew I looked good," says Shaheer who recently visited Lucknow.

He adds, "Actually, my friend forwarded my pictures to a few people in the showbiz who liked them and called me for the auditions. It all happened so quickly that I didn't get the time to even think about where my career was going. This is how I got my first big show, "Navya"."

But the high of the success of his big show was short-lived, says Shaheer, and adds, "My show was topping the TRP charts once, but sadly it was about to end in February because of a poor script. All of this happened all of a sudden when the wedding track of Anant and Navya was postponed. The channel thought that it was too early for a young love story to mature into a marriage and so the production house postponed it. Bus, wahin se sab kuch gadbad ho gaya. But thankfully, the show got saved and is now doing good in the early evening slot."

At the same time, it isn't just Shaheer's professional life that has been keeping him in news. The dude created a lot of buzz some time back for his relationship with film actress Smiley Suri. However, the man in question denies any such linkup and says, "I am not dating Smiley! Smiley and I have been really good Friends for a long time. People spotted us together earlier also. But we got written about only when I became a known face on television. But for The Record, I am single! And I am really looking forward to fall in love. I want to experience love."

Not many people know that Shaheer is also a photographer. "Photography is my passion. Whenever I get time, I click." Coming to Lucknow for the first time, Shaheer has plans to visit the city again sometime for a few clicks. "Lucknow has some amazing locales from a photographer's point of view. The city is really beautiful. From important heritage monuments to the recently built parks, there is so much for me and my lens," he smiles. Ask Shaheer what next and he surprises you with his reply, "I will soon be coming up with a music album which will have my lyrics and my music. Also, direction is also on my mind. I am just keeping my fingers crossed. I really don't believe in planning my life. I am just going with the flow and following my heart."