Hamza Ali Abbasi may be infamous for his socio-political posts on social media however, as much as he is loved and/or hated for his religious, political and social beliefs, he has some of the most successful acting projects to his credit. From TV plays like Pyarey Afzal and Mann Mayal to films like Waar and Jawani Phir Nahi Ani, Hamza has proven himself a credible actor as much as an activist. And it wouldn’t be wrong to say that his activism has influenced his choices as an actor.

This is one reason why it’s taken Hamza three years to return to the big screen. His first film since Jawani Phir Nahi Ani (2015), Parwaaz Hai Junoon is scheduled to release this Eid ul Azha as a portrayal of life in the Pakistan Air Force. Hamza essays the role of a fighter pilot in the film and is convincing in the trailer. Instep caught up with the actor for some insight on his character, his upcoming films and TV projects and how his socio-political statements have affected his career, if at all.

We began the conversation with Parwaaz Hai Junoon, his next, whose trailer has generated mixed reviews.

"This movie is not just about warfare; it also highlights the human side of air force officers," Hamza explained. "They are just like any other human being who has a life, a family as well as a love interest. And when they lose their lives, their families have to suffer and sacrifice a lot. Despite that, their families send them away to fight for the nation. This human element in the film gives me a very good feeling."

Parwaaz Hai Junoon will see a clash at the box office with Load Wedding and Jawani Phir Nahi Ani 2, which, according to Hamza is going to be a healthy competition and is encouraging for the industry. The first installment of Jawani Phir Nahi Ani featured Hamza Ali Abbasi but he isn’t part of the sequel, for reasons which he’s always made very clear.

Reflecting on the recently released trailer of JPNA2, the actor observed, "I think it’s an amazing trailer and the film is genuinely entertaining. I’m glad they learnt from the first part and haven’t incorporated the kind of songs that were featured last time. It’s a family film."

Sometime back, Hamza expressed his dislike for item songs on the grounds that they objectify women. However, given his profession, one feels that such kind of objectification isn’t just limited to item songs. A lot of other mediums such as commercials, TV plays and even films in general objectify women and treat them as eye candy.

When asked about his take on the subject, he responded, "I condemn domestic violence shown in our TV plays but that’s the next step. First, we should at least oppose things that are on the extreme side. I have serious issues with item songs. They objectify women and that’s an insult to the art itself; that’s an insult to entertainment. Item songs have sexually provocative lyrics and clothes and this has an extremely negative impact on our society; particularly, young girls who look up to these actresses and public figures."

Aside from Parwaaz Hai Junoon, Hamza has another upcoming film, Maula Jatt, in the pipeline that is certainly one of the most anticipated Pakistani films to release post cinema revival. Directed by Bilal Lashari, it is being projected as a reboot of the 1979 Maula Jatt and stars Fawad Khan, Mahira Khan and Humaima Malick apart from Hamza.

"It’s in the final stage of being completed," Hamza informed. "Let me assure you that it is going to be the biggest surprise of Pakistani cinema. It’s going to be a shocker."

In addition to the films Hamza is gearing up for, the actor has also signed up for a drama serial called Alif – opposite Sajal Aly – which will be his next after Mann Mayal (2016). Apart from Hamza and Sajal, Alif stars Ahsan Khan, Sadaf Kanwal, Yashma Gill, Sarmad Sehbai and Kubra Khan in important roles. Having recently begun shooting for the play, Hamza shared that he hadn’t planned to take up any other project aside from Parwaaz Hai Junoon and Maula Jatt but the script was so beautiful that he ended up giving it a nod.

"Media has the power to educate the masses as well as the potential to destroy them; it just needs the right direction," he asserted, hinting at the theme of Alif. "The message that the play carries is very close to my heart and I have given up on a lot of my commitments to make myself available for this one. This is the first time I am working with Sajal; she is a very talented actress."

Moving on, with the national elections merely 10 days away, we had to ask Hamza about his level of involvement given that he is an avid supporter of PTI chief Imran Khan and has been posting a countdown declaring Imran Khan as the next PM.

"I am extremely excited about the elections," Hamza echoed the thought. "These are by far the most important elections in the history of Pakistan. They will set the direction for the next 50 years. It is my request to all Pakistanis to get out of their homes and vote. It’s this one day that your country demands from you. I expect the turnout to be around 80 to 90 per cent this time, unlike the past when it has just been 30 per cent, so that the results actually reflect the voice of the nation."

Given his excessive presence on social media and his political statements that don’t always resonate well with people, we asked if this affects his work in any way.

"I don’t get brand endorsements because of this," he admitted. "There was a time when I had seven brands but when you take political sides, what happens is brands stay away from you. But this was the price I was more than willing to pay. One should take sides. In a time of crisis, I think silence is a sin. This has destroyed Pakistan. Religion and politics are two most important aspects but nobody wants to talk about them or take a stand."

He added on a parting note, "I assure you that except for brands, there hasn’t been any effect on my acting career. I am doing projects of my choice which are relatively the best projects of Pakistan. I am doing absolutely fine as far as my acting career is concerned. One should become a part of society’s transformation. Remember that charity is a temporary solution, permanent solution comes through politics. Governments bring permanent solutions."