# Durdana Butt

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, and Pride of Performance.

## Early life

Durdana was born in Lahore, Punjab on 9 May 1938into an ethnic Kashmiri family. She studied at Kinnaird College and later went to the University of Toledo, where she completed PhD in Ohio 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. 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

| Year | Title | Role | Network |
| 1975 | Madan-e-Mohabbat | Begum | PTV |
| 1978 | Zindagi Bandgi | Bee Ji | PTV |
| 1978 | Fifty Fifty | Safia | PTV |
| 1980 | Aangan Terha | Sultana Sahiba | PTV |
| 1981 | Darwaza | Shela's mother | PTV |
| 1982 | Sona Chandi | Kako Dhoban | PTV |
| 1982 | Naukar Ke Aage Chakar | Tahira Begum | PTV |
| 1983 | Wadi-e-Purkhar | Sughra | PTV |
| 1985 | Tanhaiyaan | Bibi | PTV |
| 1986 | Khal Office Office | Aapa | PTV |
| 1986 | Show Time Boutique | Ms. Noor | PTV |
| 1988 | Hanstey Bastey | Begum Sahiba | PTV |
| 1990 | Kahani No: 10 | Anjam's mother | PTV |
| 1992 | Nadan Nadia | Nasreen | PTV |
| 1993 | Eid Flight | Aapa | PTV |
| 1993 | Nijaat | Shafqat | PTV |
| 1997 | Anokhi | Rana's mother | PTV |
| 1998 | Such Much | Zareena | PTV |
| 1998 | Jinnah Se Quaid | Densha Petit | PTV |
| 2008 | Cousins | B.G | PTV |
| 2008 | Rani | Rani's mother | PTV |
| 2011 | Choti Si Kahani | Amma Bi | PTV |
| 2011 | Dugdugi | Ashraf's mother | ARY Digital |
| 2011 | Mera Naseeb | Nazia's Aunt | Hum TV |
| 2011 | Mohabbat Rooth Jaye Toh | Sister Veronica | Hum TV |
| 2011 | Phir Chand Pe Dastak | Masooma | Hum TV |
| 2012 | Tanhaiyan Naye Silsilay | Bibi | PTV |
| 2012 | Armaan | Rabbani | PTV |
| 2014 | Marium Kaisay Jiye | Javed's mother | ARY Zindagi |
| 2015 | Family Band | Dadi | ARY Digital |
| 2016 | Mazaaq Raat | Herself | Dunya News |
| 2016 | Intezaar | Zoya's grandmother | A-Plus |
| 2017 | Meray Chotay Mian | Ama Jaan | Express Entertainment |
| 2017 | Thori Si Wafa | Sameel's grandmother | Hum TV |
| 2017 | Begangi | Sundus | A-Plus |
| 2017 | Rani Nokrani | Shazia | Express Entertainment |
| 2019 | The Shareef Show Mubarak Ho | Herself | Geo TV |
| 2019 | Ruswai | Amma | ARY Digital |

### Telefilm

| Year | Title | Role |
| 1988 | Eid Train | Rukhsana |
| 2014 | Dulha Mein Le Ke Jaungi | Farrukh's mother |
| 2014 | Papar Se Pizza Tak | Sweetie |
| 2018 | Dil Diyan Gallan | Raniya's grandmother |
| 2019 | Bahu Rani Saas Sayani | Dadi |
| 2021 | Doly From Mianwali | Zain's grandmother |

### Film

| Year | Title | Role |
| 2016 | Hijrat | Nani |
| 2016 | Ishq Positive | Rajjo's mother |
| 2017 | Balu Mahi | Balu's grandmother |
| 2019 | Dry Leaves | Farhat Ul Ain |
| 2019 | 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 |
| 1985 | PTV Award | Best Actress | Won | Tanhaiyaan |
| 1986 | 6th PTV Awards | Best Actress | Won | Khal Office Office |
| 2018 | 17th Lux Style Awards | Best Supporting Actress | Nominated | Balu Mahi |
| 2020 | Sitara-i-Imtiaz | Award by the President of Pakistan | Won | Herself |
| 2022 | Pride of Performance | Award by the President of Pakistan | Won | Herself |