Renowned Pakistani film and TV actor Hamza Ali Abbasi has clarified his past statement regarding stepping away from the entertainment industry.

In 2019, Hamza announced that he was distancing himself from showbiz to focus more on his spiritual journey and deepen his understanding of Islam. Following that, he stayed away from films and dramas for quite some time, and in several interviews, he spoke about temporarily stepping back and exploring Islamic ideology.

In a recent interview, Hamza clarified that he never said he was permanently quitting showbiz. He explained,

“In my video, I didn’t say I’m quitting showbiz. I said I had reached certain conclusions about God and the afterlife, and I wanted to take a break to explore those further. I also clearly mentioned that it should not be assumed that I’m leaving the arts for Islam.”

He further elaborated that he follows the interpretation of Islam taught by scholar Javed Ahmed Ghamidi, whom he had also mentioned in his original video.

“According to his views, artistic expression within ethical boundaries is permissible. That’s why I never said I’m leaving showbiz altogether.”

Hamza also shared that he traveled to Dallas, Texas to study under Ghamidi, and expressed frustration that people misunderstood his message.

“No one watched the full 17-minute video. The next day, headlines were everywhere saying I had left showbiz. I was stunned. People made headlines just from the first 4 minutes.”

With this clarification, Hamza Ali Abbasi has reaffirmed that while his priorities may have shifted, he is not opposed to working in showbiz as long as it aligns with his values and ethics.