KARACHI, Jan 25: Well-known actor Rizwan Wasti passed away after a prolonged illness on Monday in Karachi. He was 73 years old.

He is survived by his wife Tahira Wasti, herself an actress of repute, two sons and a daughter, Laila Wasti, also a known showbiz personality.

Rizwan Wasti was born in Lahore and belonged to a highly educated family. He lent his baritone voice to a variety of radio programmes and acted in several plays on PTV in the '60s, '70s and '80s, but it was his performance in the drama serial Shama (adapted from an A.R. Khatoon novel by Fatima Surrayya Bajia) that catapulted him to fame.

Apart from many long plays and drama series, his acting skills in Aagahi, Uroosa and Abgeene were received with critical acclaim.

Rizwan Wasti was one of those actors who used the cadence of his voice to remarkable success, an art that he mastered while working for Radio Pakistan. He was also a banker. Dawn

His death has left the acting fraternity of the country sad. Talking to actor Talat Hussain said, “He was a distinguished name in the broadcasting world, a man who had his own distinct style. He was also a straightforward and honest individual.”

Actor Behroz Sabzwari said: “He had a great personality and was a learned person. He was a cultured and classy human being, something that's a rarity in today's world. My colleagues and I learnt a lot from him.”

Noted director and producer Kazim Pasha said, “He was an extremely devoted artist. He would keep learning the script on the sets and never sit idle. He'd remain in character even after the shooting would end. He was part of some of the most memorable plays in the history of Pakistani television.”