A whole generation of Pakistani children that today is in its 30s has Nusrat Ara’s iconic performance as Bill Batori ingrained in their minds in some way or the other. While Bill Batori’s character arc in Ainak Wala Jin is probably unclear to most of those who watched her as kids, the various catchphrases she uttered along with her overall aura to this day bears a significant amount of recall.
Ara’s close association with a vast majority’s childhood made the dire straits she was in during her later years all the more tragic. Not only did her health deteriorated at an accelerated pace in the past decade, she was also struggling to make ends meet financially.
The love she had once garnered at the peak of her career, in the end, held no tangible value, with Ara having to beg at Data Ganj Baksh’s shrine instead of turning to fans and contemporaries in her darkest hour.
The actor passed away three years back today, October 14, 2017, at the age of 65 due to respiratory issues. Her third death anniversary was observed on Tuesday and a play at Alhamra Hall Lahore is being held as a tribute on Sunday.
Her co-star from Ainak Wala Jin, Haseeb Pasha, who played the role of Hamoon Jadugar, described Ara’s character as the “most strong” one in the TV show. "Nusrat Ara's Bill Batori was the strongest role in Ainak Wala Jin. She always gave it a 100%. On the coming Sunday, a play will be performed at Alhamra in which young children will be made aware about her career,” Pasha told The Express Tribune.
Touching upon her last days, Pasha recalled how society as a whole failed to give back to someone that was responsible for spreading smiles. “On her death anniversary, I also request the government to take notice of poor artist’s and do something for them,” he said.
Veteran actor Shiba Butt called Ara’s latter life “a slap in the face” to the artist community in Pakistan. "Nusrat Ara saw the peak of poverty and was forced to beg. It is nothing short of a slap in the face. She was one of the biggest actors during the 90s, liked by children and adults alike,” Shiba said.
Prominent producer, Qaiser Javed echoed the same sentiments on how the industry treated her, post Ainak Wala Jin. "Nusrat Ara spent around four decades in this industry. In many ways she gave her life to the industry. However in return, she didn’t receive anything either from her fans or her contemporaries. No one among us that was in that era can forget her,” Javed said.
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