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MUMBAI: One of the longest-running shows on television, Rajan Shahi’s Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai has been winning hearts for quite some time now. It focuses on family values, love, and the ups and downs every type of relationship faces. Apart from loving Mohsin Khan and Shivangi Joshi’s chemistry as a couple, the audience also liked Mohena Singh and Rishi Dev’s sweet relationship. Recently, however, Rishi quit the show allocate more time to his growing YouTube channel.

business cash has now learned that the handsome Sehzad Shaikh is replacing Rishi on the show. We had a quick chat with him on his new role. Read on to know more!

The role of Naksh is a big break for you, since it is a hit show. Your comments?

I’m looking forward to this, because replacing a character comes with a certain sense of responsibility. There is certain amount of work that is need to be put into it, so when it comes to stardom and big breaks, I’m thinking more about taking care of the character that has been built and making sure that the fans love the change and embrace it immediately. To me, the big break will be once everybody in Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai watches my work and say ‘This is the guy we love’.

Have you followed Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai?

I’ve been following the show on and off for almost three years, and I have wanted to be associated with the show for three years now. In fact, every time an opportunity used to come by, I used to keep in touch with the casting team to see and find about the opportunity. Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai carries a legacy, and it is an honour to be associated with a brand called Mr. Rajan Shahiji and Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai.

Do you think it is the best New Year gift you have received?

It is the best Christmas and New Year’s gift for me. I feel extremely happy. I could not ask for anything more. I have been waiting to do this show and have been waiting to work with Rajan Sir from quite some time. Every year, I watched them do their job and they’re all so polished. I have been following the current track that is going on. The way they work, I think for me it’s going to be great fun to work with them.

What is the secret of your good looks?

It’s a lot of water and a very heavy skin maintenance regiment.

Is having good looks half the battle won?

No, not at all. I started with the whole acting thing in 2012. So if good looks were going to pay the bills, I think you would have 6-feet models with blue eyes and blonde hair killing it right now. If you’re an actor, you have to be able to act. If you can’t act, no matter how good you look, within 14 days you will be rejected because you cannot cheat the camera. If you don’t know your job right, it doesn’t matter how good looking you are. You’re going to look like a very dumb person who is not ready for the job. I have never modeled in my life. I’ve been extremely dedicated to acting. If acting takes me over, then I probably will do it for the show, but for me, acting is very important I want to be able to tell a story. I always wanted to be able to come on board with Rajan Sir’s project, and to be a part of the storytelling process with such an amazing team is an honor.

Rajan Shahi is a hit show maker. So how do you feel about getting an opportunity to work with Director’s Kut?

Like I said, over the moon! The moment I got a call from DKP, I got really excited. I am someone who does not celebrate until it doesn’t happen in reality. So I’ve always been in and out of DKP since the very beginning of my career, as I knew they were one of the biggest production houses. I’m a pure TV person and had even done a little bit of homework on who Rajan Sir is and the kind of work he has done. I know that the industry has the highest regard for him. I am grateful to Rajan Shahi for trusting my talent.

What has been special in your career journey so far?

My career journey is the same as most actors. I never took any shortcuts. I am a very simple guy. I started off and treated this business like a business. I started from the bottom in Savdhaan India in 2012, and God and the industry have been kind enough to give me the opportunity and from then up till now. I could not ask anything more. It’s a slow process and requires conviction and persistence. It doesn’t matter who you are. The right time, right place, and luck are the factors and variables that cannot be calculated. There is nothing that you can do about it. It’s all about destiny. I was in Saudi Arabia when I was 8 years old and we didn’t even have access to films. So I grew up in an environment where Zee TV, Sony, and Star Plus were the only channels we could watch in that country .To me, it is a journey and a dream come true: a boy who was sitting there with no cinema, and then, 20 to 30 years later, I find myself, doing the exact thing that I would have dreamt of, so I can’t ask for anything more.