Veteran Pakistani actor Waseem Abbas has addressed the discussion surrounding his earlier comments about Bilal Abbas Khan’s performance in Ishq Murshid, saying his remarks were exaggerated after going viral online and did not accurately reflect what he had intended to say.
Speaking during a recent interview, Waseem Abbas clarified that he had never criticized Bilal Abbas Khan’s overall performance. Instead, he said he had only shared a personal opinion about a single scene from the drama, which he felt was performed a little "over the top."
Waseem also revealed that he is a long-time admirer of director Farooq Rind and has always appreciated Bilal Abbas Khan’s talent. According to him, his comments were taken out of context and presented as though he had dismissed Bilal’s entire performance, which was never his intention.
Clarifying his stance, Waseem compared Bilal Abbas Khan to Pakistan cricket star Babar Azam, calling him “the Babar Azam of acting.” He explained that even the finest cricketers occasionally play a poor shot, just as even the best actors can have a scene that may not go exactly as planned.
He stressed that his observation was limited to one particular scene and not the drama as a whole. Waseem added that Bilal handled the romantic portions of Ishq Murshid exceptionally well and that his on-screen chemistry was one of the strongest aspects of the serial.
He simply felt that one emotional scene could have been performed with a little more restraint.
The veteran actor also shared that after the interview gained attention online, he personally called Bilal Abbas Khan to explain his comments. Waseem said he apologized in case his remarks had hurt the actor’s feelings.
According to Waseem, Bilal responded with remarkable humility and respect. He recalled Bilal telling him that, as a senior actor, if he had noticed something that could have been done better, he would gladly accept the feedback and keep it in mind for future performances.