Asma Abbas tears up in Sumbul Shahid's memory

Express Tribune

10-05-2025

In a video shared on her YouTube channel, veteran actor Asma Abbas reflected on the death of her actor-sister, Sumbul Shahid. Asma began by shedding light on how one's mental health deteriorates with age, especially as they watch their loved ones pass away. "I think the bitter realities of life and the departure of loved ones shatter you as you grow older."
She soon broke into tears, her voice quivering as she continued, "Today is May 6. It's the death anniversary of my Sumbul baji. It's been four years since she left us." The Radd actor took a moment to dwell on how quickly the four years have flown by. "It's been four years and it doesn't even feel like it," she said.
Sumbul passed away in 2021 after battling Covid-19 on a ventilator. Both Asma and actor Bushra Ansari informed their fans about their sister's affliction and requested them to pray for a speedy recovery.
"She was very innocent," Asma said of her sister. "So innocent that she didn't even realise that she had fallen sick. How she passed on, I don't know. But her departure, my parents' departure, it has all affected my heart deeply. And after that, there has been no joy left in life."
Despite her relentless sorrow, the veteran actor is grateful for the gift of life. "We've been spending our life, all thanks to God. This life is indeed His blessing. But given these tragedies, there is no delight left in life anymore, no enjoyment."
Asma thanked her fans for extending their well-wishes and support while also giving her advice on how to stay strong during periods of grief. "Yes, keeping busy is important and I do that too. But the thing is, the dejection of losing my loved ones has settled deep within. It's not going to end."
Providing some context, she mentioned that she was on set and had been in low spirits since morning. "That's why I have tears in my eyes. My heart was aching," she said.
"I kept thinking about many lovely memories with her. My sister was very naive and God-fearing. It is as they say, when someone passes, that they're now near and dear to God. She was always that way because her faith was so strong. There is no greater pain for a mother than her child's suffering, yet when her son passed away, she made sure to keep praying despite her grief."
Asma believes that effort doesn't make a person good, they just naturally have kind hearts, like her sister. For Asma, Sumbul had a touch of clumsy innocence to her, given her lack of awareness of material things, and she also had a beautiful singing voice.
While reminiscing about her sister's memorable moments, Asma took away something positive from Sumbul's passing. "She used to hate feeling old and would tell us not to call out her age on every birthday," the Sukoon actor recalled. "And look at God's plans. She departed young and never got to see the old age that she feared so much."
Bushra's note
On Thursday, Bushra also dedicated an Instagram post to her late sister, who she had worked with on the beloved comedy wedding series Kis Ki Aayegi Baraat.
Posting a solo photo of Sumbul, Bushra wrote, "My lovely sister, Sumbul Shahid. I miss you a lot. It's your death anniversary yet I still can't believe (that you're gone). May Allah bestow mercy upon you. Ameen."
Fans flooded the comments section with heartfelt prayers, acknowledging that the void that loved ones leave behind can never truly be filled.