Sultana's parents were related to actress Shamim Bano, wife of famous Pakistani film producer/director Anwar Kamal Pasha, who cast her in his directorial Qatil in 1955 in a supporting role with the screen name Nazli, marking her acting debut.

She came into prominence in 1957 with Jaffar Malik's Saat Lakh, where she portrayed a tawaif opposite Santosh Kumar, and earned a Nigar Award for best supporting actress for her performance.

The film celebrated its golden jubilee on the box office and Sultana's portrayal of a loving wife and a selfless friend earned her a Nigar Award for Best Actress.

[4] In the 1970s, she moved to performing character roles in S. Suleman's Abhi To Main Jawan Hoon and two films by Hassan Tariq, Mazi Haal Mustaqbil and Seeta Maryam Margaret.

[4] She married Darpan, her co-star and one of the foremost romantic hero in Pakistani film industry, at the pinnacle of her movie career and had two sons Qaisar and Ali.