Famous actress Roohi Bano passes away: Family

Famous TV actress Roohi Bani has passed away in Turkey where she was under treatment at a hospital in Istanbul, sister Rubeena Yasmeen said.

According to reports, she was suffering from kidney diseases and mental disorder. The actress was on ventilator for the last 10 days, she added.

Bano is a well-educated Pakistani actress and a Presidential award winner as well. In Nov 2018, Bano went missing but was later found to be at his brother’s home. 

She was born on 10 August, 1951 in Karachi.

She was in Turkey since December. When her body will be shifted to Pakistan is not confirmed yet.

'Brilliant talent, tragic life': TV legend Roohi Bano mourned by artists and admirers

Known for her rich contributions to Pakistani TV dramas of the 1970-1980s, Roohi joined the TV industry whilst pursuing a psychology degree at the Government College, Lahore. Her appearance on a quiz competition led to a prolific TV career, starting with the Haseena Moin-penned Kiran Kahani.

Her growing stature as an actor in the '70s led to her appearance in a few films such as Palki, Kainat and Goonj Uthi Shehnai but it was TV that she made her home ground. Her iconic performances like Qila Kahani, Zard Gulab, Hairatkada, Darwaza will forever be remembered as golden moments in Pakistan's TV history.

She was awarded the Lux Style Unilever Chairman's Lifetime Achievement Award in 2011.

Despite her obvious brilliance as an actor, Roohi's career was cut short by personal tragedy and strife. After two unfulfilling marriages, she lost her only son to murder in 2005 — a loss she struggled to endure. In 2015, she also survived an attack on her life when her son’s friend reportedly attacked her for refusing to sell her Gulberg residence to him. She was being treated for schizophrenia at Lahore's Fountain House on and off during the final decade of her life.

Speaking to Geo News, writer Amjad Islam Amjad ranked her highly among the female stars of her time, "Few could understand their characters as deeply as Roohi could."

Actor Ghulam Moinuddin remembered her as "a truly great artist. She contributed greatly to Pakistani TV in the initial PTV era. It has to be said that all of us, including myself, often only remember our greats when they're gone. We should remedy this."