Vijaya Mehta

Vijaya Mehta (born 4 November 1934), is a noted Indian Marathi film and theatre director and also an actor in many films from the Parallel Cinema. She is a founder member of Mumbai-based theatre group, Rangayan with playwright Vijay Tendulkar, and actors Arvind Deshpande and Shriram Lagoo. She is most known for her acclaimed role in film Party (1984) and for her directorial ventures, Rao Saheb (1986) and Pestonjee (1988). As the founder member of theatre group, Rangayan, she became a leading figure in the experimental Marathi theatre of the 1960s.

Early life and education
Vijaya Mehta was born Vijaya Jaywant in Baroda, Gujarat in 1934. She graduated from Mumbai University. She studied theatre with Ebrahim Alkazi in Delhi and with Adi Marzban.

Career
She became a major figure in 60s Marathi experimental theatre. She is a founder member of theatre group, Rangayan with playwright Vijay Tendulkar, Arvind Deshpande and Shriram Lagoo.

Her stage production of C. T. Khanolkar's Ek Shoonya Bajirao is considered as a landmark in contemporary Indian theatre. She introduced Bertold Brecht into Marathi theatre with adaptation of The Caucasian Chalk Circle (Ajab Nyay Vartulacha), and Ionesco with Chairs.

She collaborated on Indo-German theatre projects with German director Fritz Bennewitz including a traditional performance of Bhasa's Mudrarakshasa with German actors. Except Pestonjee, most of her work consists of film and television adaptations of her stage plays.

She was awarded the 1975 Sangeet Natak Akademi Award for excellence in Direction, in 1986 she won the National Film Award for Best Supporting Actress for her role in Rao Saheb (1986).

Personal life
She first married Harin Khote, son of actress Durga Khote, however he died at an early age, leaving behind two young sons. Thereafter, she married Farrokh Mehta.

Filmography

 * Kalyug (1981) - Actor
 * Smriti Chitre (1982, TV film) - Director, Actor a
 * Shakuntalam (1986, TV film) - Director
 * Party (1984) - Actor
 * Rao Saheb (1985) - Director, Screenwriter, Actor
 * Haveli Bulund Thi (1987, TV film) - Director
 * Hamidabai Ki Kothi (1987, TV film) - Director
 * Pestonjee (1988) - Director, Screenwriter
 * Lifeline (1991, TV Series) - Director
 * Quest (2006) - Actor

Awards

 * 1975 Sangeet Natak Akademi Award
 * 1985 Asia Pacific Film Festival: Best Actress: Party
 * 1986 National Film Award for Best Supporting Actress: Rao Saheb
 * 2004 Zee Chitra Gaurav Lifetime Achievement Award
 * 2009 Tanveer Sanmaan
 * 2012 Sangeet Natak Akademi Tagore Ratna