Durdana Butt

Durdana Butt (9 May 1938 – 12 August 2021) was a Pakistani actress known for her work on Pakistani television. She appeared in a few films as well.

Butt is best known for her portrayals in PTV's Fifty Fifty (1978), Aangan Terha (1980), and Tanhaiyaan (1985). For her contribution to the television, she was awarded the President's Sitara-e-Imtiaz, the third highest civil award in Pakistan, and Pride of Performance.

Early life
Durdana was born in Lahore, Punjab on 9 May 1938. She studied at Kinnaird College and later went to the University of Toledo, where she completed PhD in Ohio educational administration.

Career
She then went on to pursue acting where she worked in commercials and modeling, which she did briefly on PTV Channel. She started working in theater when a director gave her a role in a comedy drama. She accepted the role and earned praise for her natural acting and expressions. Soon after that she performed in many dramas on PTV Channel. In 1978 she had a role in the drama Fifty Fifty with Moin Akhtar. The drama finished in 1984; she had become well known among the audience. In 1980 she had the role of Sultana Sahiba in the drama Aangan Terha, an emotional role for which she was praised. She was paired again with Moin Akhter in a comedy drama Naukar Ke Aage Chakar in 1982. In 1985 she was offered a role in the drama Tanhaiyaan which she accepted, appearing with Marina Khan, Shehnaz Sheikh and Badar Khalil. She had the role of Bibi, who is a motherly figure to the main protagonists who lose their parents in an accident. The drama was successful and she along with other cast members was recognized for her talent.

Personal life
Durdana was married to her cousin, who died during the 1970s.

Illness and death
Durdana Butt was on a ventilator for twelve days at a hospital in Karachi before she died from COVID-19 complications on 12 August 2021 during the COVID-19 pandemic in Pakistan.

Tribute and honour
The Arts Council of Pakistan Karachi held a tribute in her memory. Theatre artist and writer Kulsoom Aftab described her as a person who brought smiles to people's faces and in the ceremony Imran Shirvanee, Misbah Khalid, and Zaheer Khan were present to acknowledge her contribution to Pakistani dramas for four decades. The Government of Pakistan named a street and intersection after her in Lahore on August 16, 2021.