New Delhi: Veteran theatre director, actor and producer Vijaya Mehta passes away at the age of 91. One of the most influential figures in modern Marathi
theatre, Vijaya Mehta, died after a prolonged illness.
She breathed her last at her residence in Nepean Sea Road on Tuesday (June 30). She is survived by her daughter Anahita, who is a well-known theatre person, and two sons.
Vijaya Mehta dies at 91
Actor Vijay Kenkre, who worked with the veteran filmmaker, told PTI, “She passed away around 9:30-10 pm. I learnt about her demise through her daughter. It’s a personal loss. She has been my guru.
Who was Vijaya Mehta?
Fondly known as Bai within theatre circles, Vijaya Mehta is known for her landmark plays such as Mee Jinklo, Mee Harlo, Barrister, Khulabai, Ajab Nyaay Vartulaachaa, Hamidabaichee Kothi, and Purish. Born in a middle class Kyastha family, she studied in St Columna Girls’ High School in Gamdevi. She completed her higher studies from Mumbai University and joined a theatre group helmed by Adi Marzban, who was one of the stalwarts of Mumbai’s Parsi theatre.
She took acting lessons from the legendary Ebrahim Elkazi, who later helmed the National School of Drama in New Delhi. She made her acting debut in the Marathi translation of Othello. Later, she launched Rangayan, a theatre group with playwright Vijay Tendulkar, actors Dr Shriram Lagoo, Damu Kankre, Arvind Deshpande and his wife Sulaba, and Madhav Watve.
She also adapted several plays into films and television shows, including Smriti Chitre (1982), Shakuntalam (1986), Haveli Bulund Thi (1987), Hamidabai Ki Kothi (1988), and the TV show Lifeline (1991).
She won a National Award for her rol of Damayanti Rane in Govind Nihalani’s 1984 film Party. She made her Bollywood debut with Shyam Benegal’s Kalyug (1981). She was last seen in Amol Palekar’s film Quest.
She also worked with Anupam Kher on 1985 period drama, Rao Saheb, which was based on her play Barrister. They also worked together in Pestonjee (1988).
After split in Rangayan, she took a sabbatical for two years and returned to Mumbai and joined commercial theatre, but it lacked fiery passion of the Rangayan era.
She then groomed new playwrights such as Jaywant Dalwi, Mahesh Elkunchwar, C T Khanolkar, and Anil Barwe. She also directed Ajab Nyay Vartulaacha, which was a Marathi translation of Brecht’s Caucasian Chalk Circle. However, it was Barrister, Wada Chirebandi and Purush which brought fresh accolades to Mehta.
She also groomed actors including Nana Patekar, Reema Lagoo, Ashok Saraf, Suhas Joshi, Neena Kulkarni, Vikram Gokhale, Mangesh Kulkarni, Bharati Achrekar, Vandana Gupte, and Pratima Kulkarni, among others.
