Ali Abbas

celebrity interview

We have several talented actors in the industry, but when the term versatility comes in, actor Ali Abbas‘s name immediately pops up. Born into an illustrious showbiz family and offspring of the veteran actor Waseem Abbas, Ali got acting skills in his genes. But this alone wasn’t a reason of his foray into showbiz, as he claims that he actually wanted to become an actor.

From stellar performances that he has rendered in numerous serials through diverse roles, there is nothing this brilliant actor hasn’t done and can’t do. From playing a kind-hearted Afaan in Rishtay Biktay Hein to a stubborn male chauvinist Naeem in Meherposh, a love-stricken romeo Haroon in Dewangi, repressed and stubborn Wahaj in Ru Baru Ishq Tha, a tensed stepson Shazir, stifling his deep feelings for his beloved Rameen in Shehr-e-Malal and an obedient son and caring brother Fahaam in Kanhi Deep Jalay, the list of Ali’s powerful roles goes on. What sets him apart from his contemporaries having only fancy six-pack abs, is his sheer talent and versatility that has become his trade mark. With his good looks and hauntingly enticing charm, Ali Abbas is definitely the next big thing.

You! How has it been for you being the son of a veteran actor Waseem Abbas?

Ali Abbas: My father never wanted me to be an actor neither he supported me, it was I who always wanted to be an actor. After completing my education, I pursed it seriously. So, I am not in the showbiz industry because of my father. I am a self-made actor.

You! But how did your voyage in showbiz take off then?

AA: I started from scratch; I managed to go to the sets frequently where I used to assist a number of directors. It has been the process and experience that I gained before becoming an actor as I worked for almost five years behind the camera. I was doing odd jobs to support myself and I was busy in my studies at that time as well.

You! In short span of time you have so much work to your credit. How do you maintain versatility with that magnitude of workload?

AA: I am a workaholic and don’t like sitting idle at all. This has been my lifestyle throughout my professional career.

You! Don’t you think that our writers should stop giving us those stereotypical stories?

AA: I wish I could change the mindset of writers and producers to get out of saas-bahu stories and think out of the box. If we won’t step out of comfort zone things would not get better. We already have touched the saturation point. They would have to understand that apart from extra-martial affairs there are host of other issues that husbands and wives confront in their routine lives which should be the part of their writings.

You! Since there is not much variation in the subjects, how do you avoid being type cast?

AA: I go through the script very thoroughly and discuss the character with my director and sometimes if it requires, I even get in touch with the writer as well to be able to comprehend the real aesthetics of the role. We have a small industry so as an actor, it gets difficult to say no to production houses, offering you projects. So the trick is to find out a way to perform it in a different way and in my case I always add on something from my end. My roles as Wasil serial Khali Haath and Aamir in Naqabzan were both similar kind of negative roles but I tried to perform it in a way so that their difference of their personalities gets evident.

You! What do you include in your list of pre-requisites for acceptance of a project?

AA: Getting the main lead or becoming the hero in a project has never been my goal. It’s always the substance in a character that I look forward to; that how significantly it positions and fits into the main story. For example in serial Dewangi, my character as Haroon makes the entry in the middle of the serial but despite that it’s a very powerful role which becomes the centre of the whole story.

You! For an actor big screen is an ultimate dream. When is your transition expected?

AA: Though I have been offered a number of films but due to Covid scene, couldn’t pursue those. But apart from other offers, I am working on a script right now so let’s see.

You! What is the general perception of people about you that you think is not right?

AA: That I am a play boy and very arrogant. I want to clarify that I am not a play boy nor I am arrogant. I am a friendly person. It‘s just that I insist on my stance when I feel that I am principally right.

You! Which roles, you think have been the most powerful ones?

AA: I think Fahaam in Kanhi Deep Jalay really stands out as the character was supposed to meet death in the middle, so I was bit skeptical too, whether should I be doing it? But it was a challenging one as I had to make people fall in love for that simple man who goes pillar to post to give a better a life to his siblings and the widow mother. The other role is of Haroon in Dewangi as it made a powerful entry in the middle of serial, standing eyeball to eyeball with the strongest character of Sultan Durrani, played by Danish Taimor.

You! What does really annoy you and what turn you on generally?

AA: Hypocrisy and Pseudo-intellectualism. I really can’t stand these two things generally. On the flip side, it’s always a good conversation that turns me on.

You! What is your message to your fans?

AA: I think this whole period of Covid-19 has proven to whole mankind that we are absolutely nothing. It’s just flu, killing us all and the new normal is not normal anymore. So please stop bullying each other and stop trying to be the most intelligent person as you have nothing to prove to anyone. Be nice to everyone and don’t take anyone for granted.