Tahira Wasti

Tahira Wasti is a celebrated Pakistani writer and television actress who maintained a successful career from the 1960s until the 1990s. She gained widespread recognition for her various roles on television, most notably for her portrayal of Isabella of Castile in the historical drama Shaheen.

Early life and education

Tahira Wasti was born in 1944 in Sargodha, Punjab. Although she was born in British India, she spent her formative years in what is now Pakistan. She completed her early education in Sargodha before moving to Lahore to pursue higher studies. After finishing her education in Lahore, she relocated to Karachi.

Career

Wasti began her professional journey at the age of 16 by writing articles for a magazine. In 1964, she worked as an English newscaster on PTV News. She transitioned into acting in 1968 when she appeared in the Pakistan Television Corporation drama serial Jaib Katra, which was based on a novel by Saadat Hasan Manto.

Throughout her career, she appeared in numerous television dramas that became classics of PTV. These include Kashkol, Jaangloos and Daldal. Because of her prominent personality, she often played regal roles that represented royal or upper-class families. Some of these notable performances occurred in plays such as Tipu Sultan: The Tiger Lord, Shaheen and Aakhri Chatan.

Wasti also contributed to the industry as a writer for television. She expressed a specific interest in science fiction during her writing career. Her written credits include the long play Deemak, the screenplay Parsa and the co-written work Hazaron Saal. She also wrote Bheegi Palkain.

Her filmography includes several television series such as Pyas, which aired in 1989, and Kashkol, which aired in 1993. She appeared in telefilms like Operation Dwarka 1965 and Karwat. Additionally, she acted in the film Kyun Tum Say Itna Pyar Hai.

Personal life

She was married to Rizwan Wasti, who was a television actor and an English language newscaster. The couple had one daughter, Laila Wasti, who is also a television actress. Maria Wasti, a famous television actress, is her niece.

Wasti faced health challenges including diabetes and heart ailments. She was also deeply affected by the death of her husband in January 2011. She died of natural causes in Karachi on 11 March 2012 at the age of 68.

Awards and recognition

The Government of Pakistan honored her legacy in 2021. On 16 August, the government named a street and an intersection after her in Lahore.