Celebrities pay homage to Zaheen Tahira

Legendary actor had been on the ventilator following a heart attack last month

KARACHI: Legendary actor Zaheen Tahira passed away in Karachi early Tuesday morning, reported Express News. She was 79 years of age at the time of her death.

Zaheen was brought into the hospital last month after suffering from a heart attack and eventually, shifted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU). However, her condition did not stabilise over the next few days and she was put on a ventilator in the Critical Care Unit (CCU) until her death this week.

The news of Zaheen’s illness had spread like wildfire throughout the Pakistani entertainment industry, with countless celebrities taking to social media to ask fans to pray for the Babban Khala Ki Betiyan star. In fact, a rumour that she had already passed away arose last week but was refuted by her son. “The legendary actress Zaheen Tahira is admitted in Aga Khan Hospital due to a serious heart attack and she needs our prayers as she is on the ventilator,” actor Imran Abbas had tweeted. “Please pray for her recovery.”

The Khuda Ki Basti artist had been working in dramas for about five decades and was widely regarded as being one of the best female actors of Pakistan. Zaheen began her career in showbiz during the golden era of PTV and was practically a permanent fixture in drama serials throughout the 1960s, up to the 1980s. During this time, she garnered a solid reputation for her acting skills and in 2013, was given the Sitara-e-Imtiaz for her unmatchable services to the industry.

Other than Khuda Ki Basti, Zaheen had many other super hit plays to her credit. These include the likes of Des Pardes, Aroosa, Malika, Kali Ankhein, Kahaniyaan and others. In fact, the late artist also served as a director, as well as a producer, for many serials.

“Zaheen Tahira was a very versatile actress, enriched with talent. She impressed generation after generation for a long time. Today is a sad, sad day,” actor Durdana Rehman told The Express Tribune. Actor Shiba Butt echoed her sentiments saying, “The history of Pakistani dramas is incomplete without Zaheen Tahira for she was one of those actors who made PTV popular. Her body of work is an asset for us and she will be remembered forever.”

Angelina Malik also shared a heart-wrenching video of Zaheen singing Abhi Na Jao Chhor Kar, Ke Dil Abhi Bhara Nahin.

Have something to add to the story? Share it in the comments below.