THE versatile actress Shahzadi, who acted in films, television plays and radio dramas over a period of four decades, died at her home in Karachi on April 24 after a protratced illness. She was 62.

Her real name was Nasreen Baloch, and she began her singing and acting career with the Hyderabad station of Radio Pakistan while still a student. She was asked to act in a radio play under the name Shahzadi, which she remained till her death.

With a vibrant voice and a deep sense of understanding of the characters she was asked to play, she attracted the attention of Sindhi film producers. Pano Aqil was the first film that featured her in the lead. A few more pictures followed, and then came the small screen.

Owing to the general perceptions about acting on television, very few women from Sindh appeared on the small screen. Ghazala Rafiq, Roshan Atta, Mumtaz Kanwal and Qaisar Naqvi were all the television had to play leading roles from PTV, Karachi. Later, Sakina Samoo, Nuzhat Abbasi, Shahnaz Soomro and Perveen Akbar joined the team, and they produced some wonderful plays and serials. The addition of Shahzadi to the ranks of female artistes was warmly welcomed, and her flexibility made her popular not only with producers but also with the viewers.

She acted in scores of plays and serials in both Sindhi and Urdu, but her role in Zeenat (1967) was generally acclaimed as being superb. It established her as an actress who would study the personality of the character and then work with such depth that the character would rise up as a living one. Among her other plays, Jungle, Deewarein, Raani ji kahani, Hathan gul mendi, Baakh, Polaar, Milkyat, Angagaarey, Saam, Nakeli, Talash, Goonj, Naata, Tania, Dungi manjh darya and Ghulam were plays and serials that broke fresh ground in teledrama.

Shahzadi’s contemporaries included Noor Mohammad Lashari, Mehmood Siddiqui, Shafi Mohammad Shah, Qurban Gillani, Farid Nawaz Baloch, Anwar Solangi, Manzoor Qureshi, and Mushtaq Moghal. While she learned from her seniors, she was a gentle guide to the new entrants.

Later, she established a garment shop in Meena Bazaar, Karimabad, and also ran a stall for embroidered clothes at the weekly Sunday Bazaars to meet the requirements of her family. Always smiling, she had to bear her share of traditional discrimination against women.

Shahzadi developed cancer and was on medication throughout the past year. She is survived by a daughter, Sajidah Shah, and a large number of fans to mourn her death.