Celebrated actor Hamza Ali Abbasi set the record straight about his much-discussed “exit” from showbiz, clarifying that he never actually left the entertainment industry — he simply took a spiritual sabbatical.

“I said I was taking a break, not quitting showbiz,” Hamza said during a recent podcast.

“People pulled out short clips from my video and ran with the narrative that I had quit acting altogether. That was never the case.”

Abbasi, known for his powerful roles and strong public persona, explained that his temporary retreat was aimed at gaining a deeper understanding of religion.

“I went to Dallas to study under Javed Ahmad Ghamidi sahib. He teaches balance between deen (faith) and dunya (worldly life), and I always intended to return to acting — just with more clarity.”

Taking a jab at sensationalist media culture, Hamza added, “Unfortunately, headlines here are often made without watching the full video, showbiz and Islam are considered to be opposites of each other, which led to wrong news. The next thing I knew, the story was out: ‘Hamza quits media for Islam’ — which was never what I said.

Hamza Ali Abbasi’s clarification comes as a breath of fresh air for fans who’ve eagerly awaited his return.

With his spiritual journey adding new depth to his worldview, his comeback to the screen promises to be more impactful than ever.