Mumbai,

01 July (HS): Veteran Marathi actress and drama director Vijaya Mehta passed

away on Tuesday late evening at the age of 92. Besides stage she acted and

directed telefilms and worked for Doordarshan. She was mentor of many actors

who earned name on stage and films.

Popularly

known as ‘Baai’ Vijaya Mehta was born in Gujarat’s Baroda on November 4, 1934

with maiden name as Vijaya Jaywant and educated in Mumbai. She obtained

training in dramatics under Ibrahim Alkazi in Delhi and Aadi Marzban in Mumbai.

She

was known as a strict disciplinary actress and director, under whose guidance

actors including Nana Patekar, Vikram Gokhale, Ashok Saraf and Nina Kulkarni

were groomed.

In

1960 she formed an organisation for promotion of drama ‘Rangayan’ with

playwright Vijay Tendulkar, Shriram Lagu and Arving Deshpande

She

also acted and directed films like Raosaheb (1986), Pestonji (1988), Party

(1984), Kaliyug (1981). TV serial telecast by Doordarshan ‘Smrutichitre’ and ‘Lifeline’

were very popular.

Vijaya

Mehta was honoured with several awards including Maharashtra Gaurav, Vishnudas

Bhave Gold Medal, Deenanath Mangeshkar Memorial Award, Natyadarpan, Sangett

Natak Akademy, Kalidas Sanman, and Maharashtra Government Life Time Achievement

Aeard.

The

Government of Iindia had awarded Padmashri to Vijaya Mehta.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Ajay Vasant Mardikar