KARACHI: Distinguished television and film actress Durdana Butt died here on Thursday. She was 74.

Ms Butt was born on April 13, 1947 in Lahore. After graduating from Kinnaird College, she went to the University of Toledo from where she obtained a PhD in education administration. She returned to the country and headed a chain of private schools for the most part of her career.

Ms Butt took up acting as a hobby in the 1960s but her skills as an artist were recognised when she worked in the iconic Karachi TV series Angan Terha written by Anwar Maqsood in 1980. She played the role of a demure woman, Sultana, sister of Chaudhry Sahib (played by Arshad Mahmud), who frequently visit their neighbours — Mahboob (Shakeel) and his wife Jahan Ara (Bushra Ansari) — sometimes to the chagrin of the married couple. Sultana admires Mahboob but because of his marital status tries to make him acknowledge her feelings through funny and often goofy gestures.

After that hugely successful project, Ms Butt did quite a few television serials and series, one of which was Tanhayyan, penned by the late Haseena Moin in 1984. She played the part of Bibi who helps the protagonists of the play, siblings Shahnaz Sheikh and Marina Khan, see through the difficult period of life after their parents’ death.

Ms Butt also acted in films such as Balu Mahi and Parey Hut Love.

Talking to Dawn, music composer and actor Arshad Mahmud said, “The first time I met her was when I was in class II. I was seven years old, she was older than me. She was into performing arts from an early age. She used to do my makeup and dress me up, although in Angan Terha she played the part of my younger sister. We were very close. She was a kind person. She lived life on her own terms. She was a good artist as well. She would work on her character with a great deal of consistency.”

Maliha Anwar Khan, her niece, said, “She lived her life joyfully and fully. She spread the joy around. We as a family are grateful to her fans and to the nation for the love that they’ve given her. And she gave it back to them. I cannot tell you the outpouring of love from all over the world. I’m just overwhelmed and grateful to Allah.”

Writer Anwar Maqsood said: “When I contracted Covid, she was the only artist who used to phone me to inquire after my health. I told her that she should also look after herself because she reminded me of writer Sadat Hasan Manto who didn’t take care of his health. It used to crack her up,” Mr Maqsood said.

Ms Butt’s funeral was held after Asr prayers at Sultan Masjid in Defence. She was laid to rest in the Defence Phase VIII graveyard.

Published in Dawn, August 13th, 2021