Impeccable manners and undeniable warmth: Industry remembers Durdana Butt

Veteran actor Durdana Butt passed away in Karachi on Thursday. It was announced that she had been placed on a ventilator last week. The renowned star was 83 and had been battling both cancer and COVID 19. 

A full-time educationist, Butt became a household name for her roles in Pakistani television classics such as Sultana Sahiba in Aangan Terha and Bibi in Tanhaiyaan. The celebrated actor also shared the screen with late television legend Moin Akhtar in Fifty Fifty and Naukar Ke Aage Chakar. 

With a career spanning over four decades, the iconic actor continued to grace the screen throughout her life. She was most recently seen in the film Parey Hut Love and TV series Ruswai. Her passing was met with an outpour of grief and love by the fraternity and fans alike. 

Speaking to The Express Tribune, playwright Asghar Nadeem Syed shared, “Durdana Butt was a versatile actor and she performed fantastic roles on both television and film. She entered the field of acting at a time when the audience was much more serious, and she did her best work for that audience. Durdana could perform both serious as well as comedic roles to perfection and her work was well-received by the public. She was an educationist and dedicated her services to the cause and will never be forgotten”

On Butt’s immense talent, veteran actor and director Sakeena Samo said, “Durdana Butt was a humble woman, but was full of talent. Her entire acting career was splendid. I had the opportunity to work with her and was impressed by her acting skills as well as her personality. Her death is very sad news to me.”

She added, “She passed away due to corona, so I urge people to take the disease and the necessary precautions seriously. I pray that she finds an abode in heaven.” 

PTV’s senior producer and director Hafeez Tahir spoke of Butt’s versatility and kindness. He reflected, “She was among those actors in the industry who were equally popular in all genres and mediums. She did film, theatre and television. She had a neat life and was a kind lady. I don’t recall any clash between her and her colleagues. She did stellar work with Anwar Maqsood and I pay tribute to her on her passing.”

Actor-producer Usman Pirzada shared, “She was a well-behaved lady with impeccable manners. I have a very long association with her. She was our senior and I learned a lot from her. I did my first play in 1973 with her, and since then we shared a cordial relationship. She was a talented actor and a dedicated educationist. Her death comes as a real shock to me.”

PTI senator Faisal Javed Khan paid tribute to the late actor in a tweet. He wrote, “Saddened to know of the passing of Dr Durdana Butt. May Allah rest her soul in peace. Ameen. She was a great actor and a professor. She had performed in classics from Fifty Fifty, Aangan Terha to Tanhaiyaan. Had met her a couple of times years ago and she would always motivate us.” 

Senator Sherry Rehman reflected on the actor’s passing, writing, “Very sorry to hear of Durdana Butt’s passing. She really was relatable in every sense of the word. RIP.” 

Actor Khalid Malik wrote on Instagram, “Durdana (Dodi) apa has transitioned from this realm back to her Creator. Inna lillahi wa inna illahi rajioon. The wise. The humorous. The insightful Durdana Butt is a special soul, now back in His embrace.” 

Taking to Instagram to post a picture of the late legend, actor Simi Raheel wrote, “It was the 70s. I was at PTV Lahore to do a play for Mohammed Nisar Hussain called Aghosh-e-Wida by Ashfaq Ahmed sahab, and that was when we acted together for the first time. Durdana Butt was an iconic, larger than life, gentle soul. She happily went around Lahore on a motorcycle all over town and was a known figure in the city.”

She continued, “Kinniard College was where she studied. I knew her as an old friend. She was a truly exceptional being and a tremendously talented actor, and her humility was incomparable. She will be missed… really missed. Durdana Butt, you were always and will continue to be dearly loved and respected.” 

Actor and TV host Ahmed Ali Butt also took to social media to remember the actor. He wrote on his Instagram story, “I was blessed to be her student when I was in school. You are and always will be pure love. Your humour, compassion and empathy are what I will always remember you by. May Allah bless your soul. Ameen.” 

“Inna lillahe wa inna ilaehe rajioon. Durdana Butt. What a lovely woman. My memories with her are not just from the industry but since I was three years old and she was my montessori’s principal. Always seen her vibrant smile. May her soul rest in peace. Ameen, ” wrote actor Fatima Effendi in memory of the late actor and educationist. 

She was laid to rest after Asr prayers on Thursday. The family urged all attendees to follow COVID 19 precautions.