Uzra Butt

Uzra Butt (1915-2010) was a noted theatre personality of the Indian sub-continent, who after the Partition lived in Pakistan. She was the sister of noted theatre and Bollywood film actress Zohra Segal, who, unlike her, lived in India.

Ms. Butt was born in Rampur, India. She began her stage career with Uday Shankar’s Ballet Company in 1937 and went on to become the leading lady of the famous Prithvi Theatre in 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 in 1944 as an actress. She then worked under Prithviraj Kapoor for Prithvi theatre till 1960.

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. She was awarded the Sangeet Natak Award in 1995 by then president of India.

She was also an art director of Pirthvi. In 1964 she migrated to Pakistan, formed a dance troupe in Rawalpindi, acted on stage and television time to time and served the National Council of the Arts.

She became the leading lady of Ajoka Theatre in 1984 and did the play, Aik Thi Nani, with her sister Zohra Segal after 40 years. The leading roles of play were performed by the two sisters. They had started their careers in Bombay in the 1930s. They performed along with her grand niece Samiya Mumtaz in the play.