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Veteran television, radio and stage artiste Arshad Durrani passed away here on Wednesday. He was 83.

He was among the acting troupe of Ajoka Theatre and his stage play ‘Lo Phir Basant Ayee’ was appreciated for his star performance as a kite-maker.

His funeral was held at DHA’s Allah Hu Mosque and attended by Shahid Nadeem and other colleagues besides his family and friends.

Qul will be held on Thursday (today) at his DHA 5 residence (House No 201, Street 9, Block J) after Asr prayers.

Arshad Durrani had been suffering from cancer for the last few years. He was admitted to the CMH last week but his health deteriorated and he passed away on Wednesday.

Born in Lahore in 1935, he was the son of scholar and journalist Maulana Tajwar Najeebabadi.

He studied at the Government College Lahore and played lead roles in plays such as Imtiaz Ali Taj’s ‘Isphahan Ke Tuk Band’ and ‘Bakheel’ (an adaptation by Zafar Samdani of Moliere’s ‘The Miser’, directed by Naeem Tahir). He also served the army and retired as a major.

He wrote and acted in plays for the Radio Pakistan and started his acting career for the PTV in late 1960’s. He joined Ajoka in 2014 by performing in ‘Lo Phir Basant Ayee’ in the lead role of an old kite-maker rendered jobless by the ban on the sport. He also played lead roles in Ajoka’s ‘Anhi Mai Da Sufna’ (2017) and ‘Charing Cross’ (2018).

He won applause in India during Ajoka’s ‘Humsaya Theatre for Peace Festivals’ for his spirited performances.

Originally published in Dawn, November 29th, 2018