While filming Season 2 of Heated Rivalry is underway, one of its newest cast members, Shaheen Jafargholi, recently shared his experience of working on set.
“It’s been a joy from start to finish,” Jafargholi told People in an interview published Saturday. “I’m still currently doing it as we speak. Everyone there cares so much about making it the best show it could possibly be for the fans, and to be a part of that world and get to kind of step into it has been surreal, but very, very exciting.”
Jafargholi, 29, who starred in the BBC’s Lost Boys and Fairies as well as the UK network’s EastEnders, went on to share that filming Heated Rivalry — which became known for its steamy love scenes between characters Shane Hollander, played by Hudson Williams, and Ilya Rozanov, played by Connor Storrie — was a “safe” space.
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“Every single person on that set cares so much about what they’re doing,” the Welsh actor said. “I don’t wanna say it was surprising, but because of how big the show is, I just couldn’t believe how small and intimate and sort of, I don’t know, safe the whole experience has felt.”
The show, based on a book of the same name by Rachel Reid, premiered in November of 2025 on HBO Max. It reached an average of 10.6 million viewers per episode in the U.S., according to Warner Bros. Discovery, per Variety.
Related: ‘Heated Rivalry’ Makes Major Casting Announcement Ahead of Season 2
And the popularity of the show, which even led to a boost in visitors to the Canadian town where Hollander’s cottage was, isn’t lost on Jafargholi.
“I was honestly in disbelief that I was even going to tape for the part, and I had no expectation that I would end up getting it,” he said.
Season 2 is slated to premiere in Spring of 2027 and will also welcome Schitt’s Creek star Emily Hampshire, as well as Justice Smith and Charlie Gillespie as additional newcomers to the cast.
Jafargholi is also starring in HBO Max’s War, which premieres on Oct. 1.
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