Uzra Butt

Uzra Butt nee Mumtaz (22 May 1917 – 31 May 2010) was a theatre personality of the Indian subcontinent, who moved to Pakistan in 1964. She was the sister of theatre and Bollywood film actress Zohra Sehgal, who, unlike her, lived in India.

Career Zohra Sehgal and Uzra Butt, part of the Uday Shankar Ballet Troupe, ca (1935–37). She began her stage career with Uday Shankar's ballet company in 1937 and went on to become the leading lady of the Prithvi Theatre in the 1940s and 50s.

She entered Uday Shankar's ballet troupe as a dancer and also taught dance before joining the Indian People's Theatre Association (IPTA) in 1944 as an actress. Here Khwaja Ahmad Abbas cast her as the lead in the play Zubeda. Prithivi Raj Kapoor was impressed by her role and chose her as his lead heroine, Zohra too joined her. In the coming years, she played leading lady opposite Prithviraj Kapoor in Prithvi Theatre productions. She played a heroine's part in Sakuntala in 1944, partnering her sister in Ghaddar in 1948 and taking the lead role in Kisan and performed in 100 towns and cities all over India. Uzra Butt was also an art director of Prithvi theatre and worked for Prithvi theatre, until 1960, when it closed. She resumed acting after a forty-year hiatus in 1993 when she performed in Aik Thi Nani with her sister Zohra Sehgal. They played the lead roles and the cast included their grandniece, Samiya Mumtaz and niece, Salima Raza. The play opened in Lahore in 2003 and toured India, Pakistan and Britain, including a performance at the Prithvi theatre in 2004.

Uzra was presented the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award in Acting (Urdu) in 1994 by the Sangeet Natak Akademi, India's National Academy of Music, Dance & Drama; it is India's highest recognition that is presented to practicing artists.

Her last stage performance was in 2008 after that she retired and would give interviews.

Death She died in Lahore, Pakistan at age 93.

Filmography Television series YearTitleRoleNetwork1977 Rishty Aur Rastay Begum Sahiba PTV1989 Neelay Hath Mai Jee PTV1995 Zard Dopehar Dadi PTV1999 Bulandi Dadi Ma PTV

Film Year Film Language1957 Paisa Hindi

Awards and recognition Year Award Category Result Title Ref. 1994 Sangeet Natak Akademi Award Best Actress Sangeet Natak Akademi