Marathi theater legend Vijaya Mehta passes away at the age of 91. A mentor to many stars including Nana Patekar, her legacy will always live on in Indian theatre.
Nana Patekar Mentor: A golden chapter in the history of Indian theater and cinema has closed forever. Vijaya Mehta, the most influential guide of modern Marathi theatre, renowned director, actress and producer, passed away at the age of 91. Vijaya Mehta, fondly known as ‘Bai’ in the world of theatre, breathed her last at her Mumbai residence. His demise has created a void not only in Marathi but in the entire Indian art world, which can never be filled.
Who was Vijaya Mehta? Due to which disease did he die at the age of 91?
According to a report, Vijaya Mehta died due to age-related problems. Born as Vijaya Jaywant on 4 November 1934 in Baroda, Gujarat, Vijaya Mehta became fond of theater at an early age. He completed his graduation from Mumbai University and later took acting and drama training from theater luminaries like Ibrahim Alkazi in Delhi and Adi Marzban in Mumbai. The path he chose after this changed the direction of Indian theatre.
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Establishment of ‘Rangayana’: When the roots of traditional theater were shaken!
This was the period when the wave of experimental and parallel theater was rising within the country in the 1960s. Vijaya Mehta became the most vocal and strong voice of this movement. He co-founded the historic theater group ‘Rangayan’ along with stalwarts like Vijay Tendulkar, Dr. Shriram Lagoo and Arvind Deshpande. This stage later became a symbol of experimental and parallel theatre, which gave a new identity to Marathi theatre.
That hidden Paras… who turned Nana Patekar into ‘gold’!
Vijaya Mehta’s greatest legacy was the talent that he honed. Vijaya ji was behind the career of outspoken Bollywood and Marathi cinema actor Nana Patekar. He captured the early days of Nana through ‘Rangayan’ and directed him in cult plays like ‘Hamidabaichi Kothi’. Nana Patekar always considered him as his greatest guru. He taught me how to completely immerse myself in a character. The relationship between the two was so deep that Nana Patekar often visited him and even attended his birthday celebration in November last year.
From Anupam Kher to Neena Kulkarni… every stalwart had a connection with him.
Not just Nana Patekar, but countless shining stars like Anupam Kher, Vikram Gokhale, Neena Kulkarni, Bharti Achrekar and Ashok Saraf were blessed with ‘Bai”s strict discipline and mentorship. Apart from theatre, he also left his indelible mark in cinema. He directed brilliant films like ‘Raosaheb’ (1986) and ‘Pestonji’ (1988), while he proved his excellent acting skills in films like ‘Party’ (1984) and ‘Kalyug’ (1981).
Which other famous Marathi actors have passed away recently?
Vijaya Mehta’s departure is another big blow to the Marathi industry. Recently, famous actor Vijay Kadam passed away at the age of 67 after a long battle with cancer. At the same time, some time ago, veteran actor Vikram Gokhale also said goodbye to the world at the age of 77, whose last project was the much-talked-about film ‘Godavari’. Now with the departure of Vijaya Mehta, it seems as if an entire generation of Marathi theater has disappeared. The art world is in deep silence today over this irreparable loss.
What were the last projects of Vikram Gokhale before his death?
Vikram Gokhale’s last projects included the Marathi film ‘Godavari’, which received praise in many film festivals. He played an important role in this film and proved his brilliant acting skills in the industry. Gokhale had a brilliant career; He worked in both Marathi and Hindi films and his last projects showcased his abilities as an actor.