Way Beyond Your Basic Guy
Indeed it is once in a lifetime of a privilege to come across someone as eccentrically incredible and ever-so-predictably unpredictable as Shaheer. Keeping aside the ‘mentalist’ bit, I am also yet to meet a soul who has brought alive their childhood fantasies by building their own secluded empire of super heroes & fantasy fiction. Strictly not allowed to share any more on that.
So after having attended his mind-boggling show ‘The Other Side’ sometime last year and literally having had discovered the bizarre gem he is in all his marvel, I wanted to get in his head; the head of the guy who seamlessly gets into that of others leaving them and his spectators stunned like never before and maybe never again for times to come, unless he hijacks their minds once more in future.
Not claiming I got anywhere even close to that but I sure managed to find out for you all as to what brought him to this strange orbit of unveiling the mental connotations & permutations…these mysteries of our minds and beyond.
- Aren’t ladies intimidated to date you? Though I’m sure they’re all the more intrigued to pursue you…
Yes, initially everyone’s intimidated to get to know me regardless of the dating scene. But when it comes to dating I am a wild animal! Oh yes. More scared of you than you are of me. Haha, I am not that outgoing. So I rarely meet any new people. I have a small group of Friends that I am always with. Other than that I don’t socialize a lot. On stage I am really confident but in my personal life i am really shy. if I find someone cute. I’d be terrified to even approach them.
- Share with us some vivid childhood memories where you just knew the truth much in advance before things unfolded?
My mom had decided to bake a cake for a get together at our place. She was new to baking at the time and I was six. Before she baked the cake, i drew a burnt cake on a piece of paper at school that very same day and labeled it “fire cake”. That very same evening. She got busy with furniture shifting and burnt her cake really bad. I still have that drawing to this day.
- Did your sharp intuition somewhat freak your parents out back then or did it just pleasantly amaze them? Provided you shared enough of your observations at home…
I shared a lot of observations at home and my parents along with the rest of my family were thoroughly amazed. During Eid meet ups and weddings I would demonstrate different things for the guests. I started performing and showcasing these skills at an early age.
- While it must be insanely exciting to know what goes in people’s mind, hasn’t it at times gotten to you knowing more than one should as at times ignorance is bliss and naked truth might hurt us…?
That’s true. The truth has hurt me in the past as I found out a lot about people by reading them. They just didn’t know. But I believe it’s better to know the truth and move out of the way compared to living peacefully in a lie. It has helped me a lot in the past. That is why all my friends are the nicest human beings on the planet. Clean hearts pave the way for happiness.
- In your opinion to what extent does a person’s sun sign/zodiac shape up their overall persona?
I think it differs from person to person. I personally do believe in character traits of zodiac signs and I believe the stars above us have immense control over what happens in our tiny little universe. But every now and then you meet people that are complete opposites of what their zodiac sign suggests.
- What’s your zodiac? I have a feeling you’re a water sign. I may be wrong.
I am a Sagittarius which makes me a fire sign. But hey, you were close! Fire and water are opposites. *clap clap clap*
- I have attended one show of yours with friends, ‘The Other Side’ that was and it sure left us awestruck nightlong as we kept revisiting the moments together in our wandering discussions. One thing that stood clear was we’re sure coming back to witness more of your magic in the coming times. So keeping us fans aside, what do you have to say to the critiques or naysayers? The ones who would conveniently declare all your mind work to be “scripted” – “Plotted audience” for instance?
Firstly, thank you so much for attending my show. I have put my heart and life into that piece of theatre. The point of that show is to challenge your reality and to make you question. What is real? And what is not. So my show does initiate a debate after every curtain drop. We as human beings are innate problem solvers. When we see a piece of puzzle, we try coming up with a solution right there and then. And what I do has no logical/possible explanation for laymen. Therefore some people have nowhere else to resort to but to think that it’s all a hoax and that I use actors and stooges, which is so not true. That is why I encourage everyone to come experience it live. I try reading as many minds as possible during my show. Those who experience it (like yourself) know that it’s legit and those who don’t, stay curious.
- When you’re not being this incredible mentalist, what are you in daily life? Your line of profession, other than of courses this passion of yours if I may ask?
This is what I do full time. I do corporate performances and TV appearances. That’s how I make a living and I consider myself really lucky to be making a living out of what I do love doing.
- There are many captivating places in this world, Europe especially is historically rich and ever so mysterious. Any such peculiar places from around the world you feel is calling out on you to decipher many of its’ unknown mysteries?
Okay this is the most original question anyone has ever asked me and it is now my favorite question. One thing you should know about me is that I am really big on the unknown phenomenon of the world. Bermuda Triangle, Area 51, The Pyramids, UFOs, Aliens, Bigfoot etc. These things gather my interest highly! I haven’t embarked on a journey yet to decipher the hidden mysteries of the world but eventually I see myself becoming an explorer who goes on expeditions to unravel the secrets of this planet and beyond.
- Do you read Dan Brown? I kind of get such vibes from you I’m sorry J that of a spot on cryptographer – someone who can untangle puzzle-some plots. How different or similar is cryptography or even numerology per say from the kind of deciphering you’re capable of?
I haven’t read any of the Dan Brown books strangely. I grew up reading Goosebumps and Fear Street Saga from R.L Stine. And still to this day I love reading those. I naturally have a knack of solving puzzles and coming up with codes to decipher things. I haven’t studied cryptography to that extent but yes I do a lot of demonstrations using numerology and lucky numbers.
- What was your first ever mindreading show like and how long ago was that? Was the audience as involved as you effortlessly manage to engage today?
Not at all. I was really young and extremely nervous. I was 14 and we had an Eid get together at our place. I performed in my lounge for my family members. I was really sloppy and got things wrong a lot. I still do to this very day. But the percentage of me being wrong during a performance has gone down vastly. So yeah the ability to captivate an audience for an entirety of a 90-minute theatre piece came to me over a course of hundreds of performances.
- Narrate the best memory you hold of a part of one such show… J Let’s hope you mention the game you played with me :p
Now that you’ve reminded me of that of course it was one of the best moments. When I had you on stage and your own final decision saved your hand from a stainless steel six inch spike going through it!
- Also do ladies bother you digging for predictions of the upcoming sales? Just kidding :p
Not just ladies but men too! Everyone wants to know how bright their future is!
- We are so excited about your upcoming show on GEO TV! And I did manage to say it out loud thrice – Gola Paati Tee Tuma J What’s the pattern of that show like? The likes of Cris Angel or David Blaine, is it? CAN’T WAIT!
Amazing! Not everyone can say it three times in a row! It’s going to be a mix of a talk show and what David Blaine does on the streets. But I’ve added my own spin on everything and each demonstration that I will perform on that show will be a ‘never seen before’ demonstration completely original and all mine. It’ll be unlike anything you’ve ever seen on Pakistani television.
- Have you ever come across some such charismatic person who accurately read your inner most thoughts and amazed you instead? Did the tables ever turn that way for you? What was it like? I’m sure you must still hold a soft corner for them.
Yes I have and it was amazing. And I still have a soft spot for them.
- When are you setting your footsteps around the globe as a mentalist performer, making Pakistan all the more proud to have an ever so unique powerhouse of a talent like you?
Very soon indeed! Once I get done with my TV show and live theatre run. I’ll surely be taking my show abroad to Dubai and the UK.
- One such mind-reader in this world that you admire and watched and observed over the years? What’s so great about them?
I’ve always looked up to David Copperfield because of the emotional hook his stories have. He’s not a mind reader but an illusionist. He has his own theatre show in Las Vegas performing every single day, seven days a week. He is living the dream.
- Does someone’s attire and choice of accessories & clothing etc. give out something about their innermost personality – weaknesses, strengths, dark secrets?
The way someone dresses tells me a lot about them specially their shoes. But my initial analysis starts from the eyes and the fingernails. They give a lot away. I am able to tell people what they do for a living most of the times without even talking to them.
- Lastly Shaheer, do you entertain one-on-one sessions with people who at times maybe unable to tap into their own subconscious and wish to seek your help in connecting with their inner selves and getting to answers they’re digging hard for amidst the confusions of life and their indecisiveness? If not, I suggest/request you must!
I do that, but not professionally. I’ve helped a lot of my friends with their problems by putting them in a trance and helping them get to know themselves better. I’ve made people quit bad habits along with helping them make the biggest decisions which were life changing.
- Oh and, on an ending note, intuitively where do you see Runway Pakistan in the coming one year? 😉
In the coming one and a half years, it will turn absolute gold! The core team of this magazine will go on to do amazing things at the very least.
