Vijaya Mehta

Vijaya Mehta is an acclaimed Indian television film and theatre actor. She is known for her works in parallel cinemas as a director, and an actor.

Baroda being her birthplace, Vijaya Mehta, originally went by the name of Vijaya Jaywant. She completed her education from the University of Mumbai, and pursued drama, and the theatre at New Delhi alongside theatre-director Ebrahim Alkazhi and Adi Marzban. Mehta co-founded the theatre group “Rangayan” with writer Vijay Tendulkar Vijay Tendulkar was born on 6th January 1928 in Mu >> Read More... , and theatre greats Shreeram Lagoo and Arvind Deshpande Arvind Deshpande is an Indian actor; he was involv >> Read More... . The works of Rangayan established her as a dignitary in Marathi theatres in the decade of 1960s. Mehta introduced the German playwright Bertolt Brecht into Marathi theatres with the rendition of his play “The Caucasian Chalk Circle” titled “Ajab Nyay Vartulacha.” She also worked with French playwright Eugene Ionesco in the Marathi adaptation of “The Chairs.”  Mehta alongside the German theatre director Fritz Bennewitz joined forces on various Indo-German projects inclusive of a performance of Indian playwright Bhasa’s “Mudrarakshasa.” She was the recipient of a Sangeet Natak Akademi Award in 1975 for her ventures in the field of Direction. The year 1981 marked Mehta’s appearance as an actress in Shyam Benegal’s “Kalyug.” She also featured in movies such as Party, Rao Saheb and Riding the Bus with My Sister. In 1985, Mehta pocketed a Best Actress Award at the Asia-Pacific Film Festival for her role in “Party.” She was also bestowed with a National Film Award for the Best Supporting Actress for “Rao Saheb.” Mehta also wrote and directed Pestonjee in 1988.

 Following the death of her first husband Harin Khote, Vijaya married Farrokh Mehta.