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

Born on November 4, 1934, to Dattatreya and Bhurabai Jaywant, Ms. Mehta received theater training from the National School of Drama, Delhi, under instructors Ibrahim Alkazi and Merchant. He also holds a degree in Economics and Political Science from Mumbai University.

His acting career started from Mumbai Marathi Sahitya Sangh. Her first role was Kamalve in the Marathi adaptation of a play, banjarasara (1953) He performed in doubters’(1955, role: Krittika), Tujhe hai tulyshi (1956, role: Usha), and beautiful mi honar’(1960–1963, roles: Dirgharaje and Make) with Sangh.

In 1960, he co-founded ‘Rangayan’ in Mumbai with Vijay Tendulkar, director-actress Arvind Deshpande and Sriram Lagoo. The group presented plays including Mother’(1961), shit’(1961), ‘Khuwa’(1962), Maddie’(1962), Mi Jinkla, Mi Harla’(1963), ‘Yashoda’(1963), and Ek Shoom Bajirao’(1963) She contributed as both an actress and director.

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

his autobiography, Dima- Athavnicha Goff Received Bharat Damani Sahitya Award and Masap Lakshmibai Tikvik Award. Ambrish Mishra edited a collection of articles about her under the title ‘Bai Ek Sangh Paryavaran Manorath Pravas’.

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

He had two sons from his marriage with Harin Khote. After his death, Ms Mehta married Farrukh Mehta, with whom she had a daughter.