It has been 18 years since the demise of Khalida Riyasat, unarguably one of the best actors Pakistan's drama industry has ever seen.

Born in Karachi on January 1, 1953, Khalida has won may hearts with her brilliant acting. She started her drama journey in the 1970s with Naamdaar, alongside famous Pakistani actor, Shakeel. However, she reached new heights after she was cast in Bandish, a PTV drama serial penned by Hasina Moin and produced by Mohsin Ali.

Khalida's acting alongside late actor Moin Akhtar in an extraordinarily humourous long play, Half-Playt, by Anwar Maqsood, is still recalled by many.

Khalida also played numerous roles in different dramas with her contemporaries Roohi Bano, Uzma Gillani and many others.

Some of her evergreen dramas include, Panah, Bandish, Dhoop, Deewar, Khoya Hua Aadmi, Silver Jubilee, Tabeer, Ab Tum Jasakte Ho and Parosi among many others.

Khalida's fans saw her last in the drama Parosi, after which she parted ways from the drama industry. After working in many different cities of Pakistan, she spent the last years of her life in seclusion at a hospital, suffering from cancer.

A truly remarkable actor of her age, she passed away on August 26, 1996.