Heated Rivalry season 2 star Shaheen Jafargholi says cast made him feel ‘safe’
“Every single person on that set cares so much about what they’re doing,” he said
Shaheen Jafargholi has opened up about joining the cast of Heated Rivalry season 2, describing his experience on the hit series as a “joy from start to finish”.
The Welsh-born actor, 29, plays Fabian Salah in the upcoming second season and told PEOPLE exclusively that the cast and crew immediately made him feel welcomed on set. Jafargholi spoke about the experience while attending the New York premiere of HBO’s War on September 22.
“It’s been a joy from start to finish,” Jafargholi said, adding that everyone involved cares deeply about making the series the best it can be for its fans. He described stepping into the world of Heated Rivalry as “surreal” and “very, very exciting”.
The actor also praised the atmosphere behind the scenes, saying the production felt much smaller and more intimate than he expected given the show’s popularity.
“Every single person on that set cares so much about what they’re doing,” he said. “I just couldn’t believe how small and intimate and sort of, I don’t know, safe the whole experience has felt.”
Jafargholi was already a fan of Heated Rivalry before auditioning for the role of Fabian. He recalled being surprised that he was even given the opportunity to audition and said he had no expectation that he would ultimately land the part.
Season 2 will continue the story of Shane Hollander and Ilya Rozanov, played by Hudson Williams and Connor Storrie. Jafargholi joins a number of new additions to the cast, including Justice Smith, Charlie Gillespie and Schitt’s Creek star Emily Hampshire.
Heated Rivalry season 2 is currently in production and is scheduled to premiere in spring 2027. The series is adapted by Jacob Tierney from Rachel Reid’s Game Changers book series.
