Veteran Theatre Director Vijaya Mehta Passes Away Anupam Kher Remembers The Legend

Veteran theatre director, filmmaker and actor Vijaya Mehta passed away on Tuesday night, June 30, at the age of 91 following age-related ailments. A pioneer of Marathi experimental theatre and a celebrated name in Indian parallel cinema, Mehta leaves behind a legacy that shaped generations of actors, playwrights and filmmakers.

Born Vijaya Jaywant, Mehta was among the founding members of Mumbai's pioneering theatre group Rangayan, alongside playwright Vijay Tendulkar and actors Shreeram Lagoo and Arvind Deshpande. Through Rangayan, she played a defining role in ushering in the experimental theatre movement in Maharashtra during the 1960s.

She trained under legendary theatre mentors Ebrahim Alkazi and Adi Marzban before emerging as one of India's foremost theatre directors. Her productions of Ek Shoonya Bajirao and Ajab Nyaya Vartulacha, the Marathi adaptation of Bertolt Brecht's The Caucasian Chalk Circle, are regarded as landmarks in Indian theatre.

 

Many of Mehta's stage productions later found a new life on screen. Her directorial credits include Smritichitra, Shakuntalam, Hamidabai Ki Kothi, Haveli Buland Thi and the medical television series Lifeline. She also directed the critically acclaimed Hindi films Rao Saheb (1986) and Pestonjee (1988), both starring Anupam Kher in pivotal roles.

Mehta made her acting debut in Shyam Benegal's Kalyug (1981). She went on to earn widespread acclaim for her performances in Govind Nihalani's Party (1984) and her own directorial venture Rao Saheb.

 

For the latter, she won the National Film Award for Best Supporting Actress, while Party earned her the Best Actress honour at the Asia Pacific Film Festival. Her final screen appearance came in Amol Palekar's Quest (2006).

Her contributions to theatre were recognised with several prestigious honours, including the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award, the Padma Shri and the Sangeet Natak Akademi Tagore Ratna.

VIJAYA MEHTA- THE ICONIC LEGEND! 💔
Deeply saddened to learn about the passing of #VijayaMehta. One of the finest theatre minds India has ever produced, an exceptional filmmaker, and above all, a remarkable human being.🥹🥹
I had the privilege of working with Vijaya Bai in Rao… pic.twitter.com/lnyOZajOLZ

— Anupam Kher (@AnupamPKher) June 30, 2026

Following the news of her demise, tributes poured in from across the film and theatre fraternity. Actor Anupam Kher, who worked with Mehta in Rao Saheb and Pestonjee, shared a heartfelt note on social media.

It read, "VIJAYA MEHTA- THE ICONIC LEGEND! Deeply saddened to learn about the passing of #VijayaMehta. One of the finest theatre minds India has ever produced, an exceptional filmmaker, and above all, a remarkable human being. I had the privilege of working with Vijaya Bai in Rao Saheb and Pestonjee. I had already done a few films by then and thought I understood something about acting. But every rehearsal with her reminded me how vast the ocean of this craft really is. In front of her wisdom, her understanding of human behaviour, and her extraordinary sensitivity, I happily became a student again. She never imposed her knowledge. She illuminated it. She never raised her voice. She raised your standards. Her discipline came wrapped in grace, her warmth in humility, and her brilliance in simplicity."

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