Vijaya Mehta

Vijaya Mehta Biography

Vijaya Mehta is a noted theatre and film personality known as an actress as well as director. She is one of the great names of parallel cinema of Marathi. As an actress, 1984 movie Party is her most noted role. Rao Saheb (1986) and Pestonjee (1988) are her most noted directorial ventures. She is the founder member of theatre group, Rangayan, founded in the year 1960. She was first married Harin Khote, son of noted actress and theater artist, Durga Khote. After his death at an early age, she married Farrokh Mehta. In 1986 she won the National Film Award for Best Supporting Actress for her role in Rao Saheb. She was its screenwriter too. For her excellence in Direction, she was awarded Sangeet Natak Akademi Award in the year 1975.

Vijaya was born Vijaya Jaywant in Baroda, Gujarat on November 4, 1934. She completed her graduation from Mumbai University. She studied theatre with noted artists like Ebrahim Alkazi and Adi Marzban. She gained popularity as an iconic figure in Marathi drama during 1960’s. Alongside Vijay Tendulkar, Arvind Deshpande and Shreeram Lagoo, she founded Rangayan theatre group. Her stage production of Ek Shoonya Bajirao directed by C. T. Khanolkar is regarded as a landmark in contemporary Indian theatre. She has also collaborated with a few Indo-German theatre projects. Mudrarakshasa with a set of German actors is the best instance.

Most of her movies were just an adaptation of her stage play or television work. One exception is Pestonjee released in 1988. In 1985, she received best actress award at Asia Pacific Film Festival for the movie Party – one of her most memorable roles as an actress. She was also honoured with Tanveer Sanmaan in 2009. Riding the bus with my sister, released in 2005 is her last onscreen appearance.

Published: N/A

Updated: January 26, 2014