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, as well as the Presidential Pride of Performance.
Early life Durdana was born in Lahore, Punjab on 9 May 1938 into an ethnic Kashmiri family. She studied at Kinnaird College and later went to the University of Toledo, Ohio, where she completed PhD in 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. By the time 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.
Filmography Television YearTitleRoleNetwork1975 Madan-e-Mohabbat Begum PTV1978 Zindagi Bandgi Bee Ji PTV1978 Fifty Fifty Safia PTV1980 Aangan Terha Sultana Sahiba PTV1981 Darwaza Shela's mother PTV1982 Sona Chandi Kako Dhoban PTV1982 Naukar Ke Aage Chakar Tahira Begum PTV1983 Wadi-e-Purkhar Sughra PTV1985 Tanhaiyaan Bibi PTV1986 Khal Office Office Aapa PTV1986 Show Time Boutique Ms. Noor PTV1988 Hanstey Bastey Begum Sahiba PTV1990 Kahani No: 10 Anjam's mother PTV1992 Nadan Nadia Nasreen PTV1993 Eid Flight Aapa PTV1993 Nijaat Shafqat PTV1996 Pal Do Pal Hameeda PTV1997 Anokhi Rana's mother PTV1998 Such Much Zareena PTV1998 Jinnah Se Quaid Densha Petit PTV2008 Cousins B.G PTV2008 Rani Rani's mother PTV2011 Choti Si Kahani Amma Bi PTV2011 Dugdugi Ashraf's mother ARY Digital2011 Mera Naseeb Nazia's Aunt Hum TV2011 Mohabbat Rooth Jaye Toh Sister Veronica Hum TV2011 Phir Chand Pe Dastak Masooma Hum TV2012 Tanhaiyan Naye Silsilay Bibi PTV2012 Armaan Rabbani PTV2014 Marium Kaisay Jiye Javed's mother ARY Zindagi2015 Family Band Dadi ARY Digital2016 Mazaaq Raat Herself Dunya News2016 Intezaar Zoya's grandmother A-Plus2017 Meray Chotay Mian Ama Jaan Express Entertainment2017 Thori Si Wafa Sameel's grandmother Hum TV2017 Begangi Sundus A-Plus2017 Rani Nokrani Shazia Express Entertainment2019 The Shareef Show Mubarak Ho Herself Geo TV2019 Ruswai Amma ARY Digital
Telefilm YearTitleRole1988 Eid Train Rukhsana2014 Dulha Mein Le Ke Jaungi Farrukh's mother2014 Papar Se Pizza Tak Sweetie2018 Dil Diyan Gallan Raniya's grandmother2019 Bahu Rani Saas Sayani Dadi2021 Doly From Mianwali Zain's grandmother
Film YearTitleRole2016 Hijrat Nani2016 Ishq Positive Rajjo's mother2017 Balu Mahi Balu's grandmother2019 Dry Leaves Farhat Ul Ain2019 Parey Hut Love Amma Jaan
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.
Awards and recognition Year Award Category Result Title Ref. 1985 PTV Award Best Actress Tanhaiyaan 1986 6th PTV Awards Best Actress Khal Office Office 2018 17th Lux Style Awards Best Supporting Actress Balu Mahi 2020 Sitara-i-Imtiaz Award by the President of Pakistan Herself 2022 Pride of Performance Award by the President of Pakistan Herself
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