With true-blue Pakistani stars like Fawad Khan making a mark in Bollywood today, it won't be wrong to say that Ali Zafar was among the first to make his presence felt as an actor, in the true sense of the term. He not only blended into the landscape of Indian blended into the landscape of India film industry effortlessly but also stayed put unlike his predecessors. However, rather than resting on his laurels, the actorsinger is eager to add to his multiple skills and explore newer avenues. In a no-holds-barred interview with BT, Ali chats about a wide array of topics - right from his new album to the possibility of breaking his no-kissing clause; why he enjoys his stint as a Bollywood hero and several issues plaguing his homeland...

So, you are back to your first love - music.
Someone told me that one should not forget one's roots. I started off as a singer but realised over a period of time that I was ignoring music. You have to make time for your passion. For me, music is a way of expressing myself. In my music album, the songs signify whatever is close to me, my feelings and thoughts at this point in time. I have entered new emotional and mental arenas and my thoughts are redefined now.

What about singing and composing more in Bollywood?
I wouldn't mind singing songs that I like and making them for Hindi films. But my priority would be independent music and I would like to keep up with it.

In one of your earlier interviews, you had mentioned that you would like to write, direct and act in a Pakistani film. Any progress on that front?
I would like to direct at some point, but for now, I just want to act and sing. I'm working on two projects in Pakistan. The idea is to make them international and bring them to India as well. See, in Bollywood, I have played the quintessential chocolate-boy hero. Now, I aspire to portray roles where I can explore my acting chops. I want to play characters which don't require me to just look good, be charming and flamboyant, but enact strong emotions. I am looking at roles, which are a breakaway from what I have done already and allow me to step out of my comfort zone.

Your compatriot Fawad Khan follows a no-kissing policy. However, you don't seem to be as conscious or feel the need to incorporate such clauses to maintain your image.
I was the one who started the no-kissing clause. It was applicable in Chashme Baddoor and my previous films since I wasn't too comfortable with it back then. Having said that, I feel sometimes you need to take some liberty as an actor. Let's see if I stick to this clause in the future. I won't say I don't mind locking lips now. It's just that I may not be as stringent about it anymore.

Are you wary of doing that because of the reactions you might get in Pakistan?
I take into account feelings and emotions of my people back home and I would never like to do anything that hurts or offends them in any manner. I have always been cautious of what roles I take and how I go about them.

But as an artiste, shouldn't you be free of such restrictions?
We don't live in a free world. Even an artiste has certain responsibilities and he can't be selfish and think of only what he wants to do. My people have been very generous. They are more open-minded than they are perceived to be.

How is their mindset different as compared to that of people in India?
Like in India, Pakistan too has its share of conservatives and liberals. There are all sorts of people there as well. I respect each one's ideology as long as it does not hurt another being. I respect everyone, but having said that, you can't make everyone happy.

Pakistani singer Amjad Sabri was assassinated last month. Your thoughts on the gruesome act...
He was a fellow musician and carried a great legacy. I remember him as a gentle, pleasant human being, always loving and respectful towards me. In an interview, he even sang one of my songs and mentioned that he liked me among the modern singers. So when my mother told me about his death, it broke my heart even further. Any act of brutality should not be condoned. In fact, humans should not come to this point in the first place.

How does it feel to belong to a country, which is often in the news for terrorism and killings?
Pakistan is a beautiful country with beautiful people. We wish its positive side is shown to the world than what they are exposed to. I believe that people like me, who travel the world, have a responsibility to make our country proud and educate people about the things that they don't really get to see about us. Killings did not start overnight, it's always been there. There have been wars and brutality through the ages. Where there has been love, there has been hatred. There are societies, where women have been respected and places and times in history when that's not happened. In the current era, we, as global citizens, need to sit down, pause for a second and figure out why is all this happening. There's something wrong in the consciousness of mankind, maybe, we are not trained to look at things the way it should be. Maybe, greed has become the fundamental component of our ambition or mindset. We are aspiring towards something which is driven by greed or material pursuit sometimes. This is why it is imperative to connect with the spiritual side of humanity on a global level. We need to come together to work towards it. What will happen to the planet if there is destruction all around? There will be no planet left. We need to think collectively.

Do your friends in Bollywood share their apprehensions about your country and ask you about it?
My experience over here has been fantastic. I have been made to feel at home in India. I have been treated extremely well by the producers and directors I have worked with and we are still friends. People are curious about Pakistan and when I tell them about the lesser-known facts, show them pictures and videos from back home, they are pleasantly surprised.