Waseem Abbas prefers guest house over son’s home

Waseem Abbas said parents should respect their adult children's privacy and avoid interfering in their lives.

Veteran Pakistani actor Waseem Abbas has spoken openly about his relationship with his adult children, revealing that he actively chooses to stay in a guest house when visiting Karachi rather than with his son Ali Abbas and daughter-in-law, out of consideration for their routine and privacy.

Speaking in a recent interview, Abbas was clear that the arrangement was entirely his own decision and not driven by any tension within the family. “I stay in a guest house not for the reason that my son or daughter-in-law do not want me to stay with them, but because I worry about making things difficult,” he said. He explained that his working hours often extend well past midnight, and he did not want his daughter-in-law to feel obligated to stay up and wait for him before going to bed.
He also acknowledged the demands of his daughter-in-law’s daily schedule, noting that she wakes up early to get the children ready for school, Quran classes, doctor appointments and social commitments. Adding his own needs to that list, he said, felt unnecessary and inconsiderate. “I do not want her to also worry about taking care of me,” he said.
His son Ali and daughter-in-law do express displeasure when he opts for the guest house, but Abbas said he makes polite excuses, telling them he has people to meet and does not want to create extra work. He was emphatic that the arrangement comes from a place of respect and not from any family discord.
He also used the occasion to share his broader view on the relationship between parents and their adult children, saying that elders needed to learn to respect the privacy of the younger generation. Living separately, he implied, was not a rejection of traditional values but an expression of a more mature and mutually considerate family dynamic.
His praise for his son Ali was particularly warm. “Any senior actor will say that they have never seen a more well-mannered man than my son,” he said, adding that even when he raised his voice at him, Ali would never respond in kind.
Abbas also referenced his divorce from actress Saba Hameed, saying it had not affected their mutual respect. He said the two remained courteous toward one another and would have no objection to working together again in a drama, noting they had almost done so on one occasion before health concerns intervened. He also confirmed that he continues to maintain a warm relationship with Saba’s parents.