Written by: Hurmat Majid
Posted on: August 17, 2021 | 
(L to R) Durdana Butt, Shahzad Khalil, Shahnaz Shaikh, Sahira Kazmi, Marina Khan and Sultana Zafar (sitting)
Durdana Butt, one of the brightest stars of Pakistan’s television industry, passed on the 12th of August, 2021. As a veteran actor with a career spanning more than five decades, Butt’s passing is a tremendous loss for Pakistani television. Her colleagues and co-workers remember her as an inspiring personality who always brought joy to those around her.
Durdana Butt
Butt was born in Lahore on May 9, 1938. She graduated from Kinnaird College and later went to the University of Toledo in Ohio, where she got her PhD in Educational Administration. Upon her return to Pakistan, she ventured into show business. Her first few brushes with acting came in the form of television commercials, and she also dabbled in the modelling industry at the beginning of her career.
She gained prominence for her recurring appearance on Fifty Fifty, a TV show that aired a series of short comic sketches. Butt starred alongside Moin Akhtar on the show, and was praised for her talent as an actor. Fifty Fifty aired on PTV from 1978 to 1984, during which Butt garnered a lot of attention from the audience. She also acted in theatre, played various comedic roles early on in her career and stood out for her natural expressions and skillful acting.
Samina Ahmad (L) and Durdana Butt (R)
After making her name in the world of comedy, Butt played an emotional role as Sultana in Anwar Maqsood’s classic Angan Tehra. The drama’s success strengthened Butt’s position in the Paksitani television industry as a versatile actor, capable of performing in diverse roles. It is impossible to talk about Angan Tehra today, without talking about Butt’s role in it.
Durdana Butt as Sultana in Angan Tehra
In 1985 Butt played Bibi in Tanhaiyan, a beloved mother-figure to the protagonists Zara and Saniya who had lost both parents in the play. Bibi was the loving housekeeper that the two girls relied on. Her witty banter with Baba, the family’s driver, also made the drama more entertaining for viewers. Butt’s role as Bibi made a comeback in Tanhaiyan Naye Silsele in 2012. The role in Tanhaiyan is believed to be Butt’s breakthrough as an actor.
The cast of Tanhaiyan Naye Silsilay
More recently, Butt played the beloved character of Maa Jee in the sitcom Dugdugi, which became a hit for its humorous depiction of family drama. Starring alongside Shagufta Ijaz, Azfar Rehman, Nausheen Shah and Ashraf Khan, Butt gave a powerful performance as a matriarch. The drama was very popular among viewers and aired for four years, from 2011-2015.
The poster for Dugdugi
Butt also appeared as a maternal figure in several films, including Balu Mahi (2017) and Paray Hut Love (2019). She last performed in ARY’s drama series Ruswai (2019), in which she played the role of a grandmother. Butt’s acting career may not comprise of as many dramas or films as some of her contemporaries, but her memorable presence on screen is what makes her stand out. The warmth she exuded, both on and off-set, still stays with her fans and colleagues. Besides her acting career, Butt worked in the education sector of Pakistan. She is known to have been associated with the Beaconhouse School System in Karachi.
Butt received a PTV Best Actress Award in 1985 for her memorable performance in Tanhaiyan. Her joyous presence on screen and the zeal with which she played her characters is unforgettable. It is hoped that the actress will be honored posthumously for her contributions to the television industry by the Pakistan government.
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