Islamabad, Jun 1 (PTI) Legendary theatre personality Uzra Butt, sister of Indian actress Zohra Sehgal, has died in the eastern Pakistani city of Lahore at the age of 93. Butt, whose last performance on stage was in 2008, had been ailing and bed-ridden for some time, her friends said.
She celebrated her 93rd birthday with friends and family on May 22. Born in 1917 in Rampur, India, Butt began her stage career as a dancer with Uday Shankar''s ballet company in 1937 and went on to become the leading lady of the famous Prithvi Theatre in the 1940s and 1950s.
She also taught dance before joining the Indian People''s Theatre Association in 1944 as an actress. She acted in Khwaja Ahmad Abbas'' play ''Zubaida'' in Bombay and appeared as a leading lady opposite Pirthviraj Kapoor in the productions of Prithvi Theatre.
During her many years with Prithvi Theatre, Butt appeared in plays like ''Shakuntla'', ''Pathan'', ''Kisan'', ''Ghaddar'' and ''Dewaar'' with her sister Zohra and travelled across undivided India with the troupe. Butt migrated to Pakistan with her husband Hameed Butt in 1964.
She led a quiet life in Rawalpindi and decided to stage a comeback when the Ajoka Theatre group introduced alternative theatre in Lahore. She joined Ajoka Theatre in October 1985 and later went on to serve as the group''s chairperson.
Butt''s first play with Ajoka was ''Chaak Chakkar''. Other plays she acted in with the group included ''Barri'', ''Dukhini'', ''Dukh Darya'', ''Takey Da Tamasha'', ''Talismati Tata'', ''Teesri Dastak'', ''Kali Ghata'', ''Adhuri'' and ''Surak Gulaban Da Mousam''.
She also taught dance before joining the Indian People''s Theatre Association in 1944 as an actress. She acted in Khwaja Ahmad Abbas'' play ''Zubaida'' in Bombay and appeared as a leading lady opposite Pirthviraj Kapoor in the productions of Prithvi Theatre.
During her many years with Prithvi Theatre, Butt appeared in plays like ''Shakuntla'', ''Pathan'', ''Kisan'', ''Ghaddar'' and ''Dewaar'' with her sister Zohra and travelled across undivided India with the troupe. Butt migrated to Pakistan with her husband Hameed Butt in 1964.
She led a quiet life in Rawalpindi and decided to stage a comeback when the Ajoka Theatre group introduced alternative theatre in Lahore. She joined Ajoka Theatre in October 1985 and later went on to serve as the group''s chairperson.
Butt''s first play with Ajoka was ''Chaak Chakkar''. Other plays she acted in with the group included ''Barri'', ''Dukhini'', ''Dukh Darya'', ''Takey Da Tamasha'', ''Talismati Tata'', ''Teesri Dastak'', ''Kali Ghata'', ''Adhuri'' and ''Surak Gulaban Da Mousam''.
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