Veteran Indian theater director, actor and filmmaker Vijaya Mehta died Tuesday night of age-related ailments. She was 91 years old.Affectionately known as ‘Bai’ in theater circles, Mehta breathed her last at her residence in south Mumbai, bringing down the curtains on a remarkable career that helped shape modern Marathi theater and influenced generations of actors, directors and playwrights.Veteran actor Anupam Kher took to social media to mourn the loss of his mentor and collaborator. Sharing a heartfelt note, Kher described Mehta as “one of the finest theatrical minds India has ever produced, an exceptional filmmaker and above all an exceptional human being”.Recalling his association on the sets of Rao Saheb and Pestonjee, Kher wrote that although he had already acted in a few films by then, each rehearsal with Mehta made him realize “how big the ocean of this ship really is”.I remembered her as a teacher who inspired more than instructed. “He never imposed his knowledge. He illuminated it. He never raised his voice. He raised your standards,” Kher wrote, adding that his discipline was wrapped in grace, his warmth in humility and his brilliance in simplicity.Reflecting on his death, Kher said one of the cruelest aspects of death is that people are suddenly forced to talk about someone they love in the past. Thanking Mehta for his generosity, affection and guidance, he said he taught countless actors that acting is not just acting but understanding life. He concluded his tribute with a heartfelt “Om Shanti.”
A pioneer of Marathi experimental theater
Mehta was one of the pioneering forces behind the experimental theater movement in Maharashtra. He co-founded the influential theater group Rangayan along with the playwright Vijay Tendulkaractor Shriram Lagoo and theater practitioner Arvind Deshpande. Under his leadership, Rangayan broke with the conventions of commercial theater and ushered in a new era of bold, socially relevant and experimental productions.Throughout his illustrious career, Mehta directed several landmark plays including Ek Shunya Bajirao, Barrister, Hamidabaichi Kothi, Purush, Mahasagar and Shakuntal, many of which continue to be regarded as classics of Marathi theatre. Beyond the stage, Mehta also made a lasting contribution to Indian parallel cinema. He directed acclaimed Hindi films such as Rao Saheb and Pestonjee, both celebrated for their nuanced storytelling and powerful performances. As an actor, he gave a memorable performance in Party, directed by Govind Nihalani.Vijaya Mehta is survived by a daughter and two sons. Details about his last rites were awaited at the time of filing this report.