Vijaya Mehta: Theatre practitioner and administrator, passes away at 91

Vijaya Mehta, known as ‘Bai’ in the theatre world, who passed away on Tuesday (June 30, 2026), held positions of leadership in national cultural institutions and acted in numerous Marathi plays. Her career included roles as an actress, director, and administrator.

Born to Dattatray and Bhurabai Jaiwant on November 4, 1934, Ms. Mehta received theatre training from the National School of Drama in Delhi under instructors Ebrahim Alkazi and Merchant. She also had a degree in economics and political science from the University of Mumbai.

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Her acting career began with the Mumbai Marathi Sahitya Sangh. Her first role was Kamalve in the Marathi adaptation of a play, Bunjarasara (1953). She performed in Sanshaykallo’(1955, role: Kruttika), Tujhe Aahe Tulyashi (1956, role: Usha), and Sundar Mi Honar’(1960-1963, roles: Dirgharaje and Mek) with the Sangh.

In 1960, she co-founded ‘Rangayan’ in Mumbai with Vijay Tendulkar, director-actress Arvind Deshpande, and Shriram Lagoo. The group presented plays including Mother’(1961), Shitu’(1961), Khuva’(1962), Madi’(1962), Mi Jinkla, Mi Harala’(1963), Yashoda’(1963), and Ek Shoom Baji Rao’(1963). She contributed to these as both actress and director.

Ms. Mehta also served as director of the National Centre for the Performing Arts (NCPA), Mumbai, from 1993 to March 31, 2010. She was also the chairperson of the National School of Drama in New Delhi. She worked as a trainer for theatre workshops organised by the Maharashtra Government.

Her autobiography, Dima- Aathavnicha Gof received the Bharat Damani Sahitya Puraskar and the Masap Lakshmibai Tikvik Puraskar. Ambarish Mishra edited a collection of writings by and about her under the title ‘Bai’ Eka Sangh Paryavaran Manorath Pravas’.

She conducted sessions on the Stanislavski system of acting in Mumbai.

She had two sons from her marriage with Harin Khote. Following his death, Ms. Mehta married Farokh Mehta, with whom she had a daughter.