The Indian film and theater community is mourning the death of the legendary actor-director. Vijaya Mehta, Shabana Azmi shared a heartwarming recollection of his mentor and collaborator Looking back on their association, Azmi celebrated Mehta not only for his vast artistic legacy but also for the warmth, humor and humility that made him an unforgettable presence on and off the set.While praising Mehta’s extraordinary artistic legacy, the veteran actress recalled the filmmaker’s hilarious inability to crack jokes.
The forgettable punchline that became his trademark
Talking about his experience working with Vijaya Mehta, the ‘Pestonji’ actor said, “Despite his great talent as an actor, he was a poor narrator of jokes. He inevitably messed up the punch line.” He also remembered how Mehta’s son, Deven, would often react in disbelief whenever he lost a joke.“His son Deven would be wringing his hands in frustration, but he would continue quietly, until he admitted, ‘Hey, main line virun geli!’ It was his way of relaxing intimidating actors,” recalls Azmi.
Pioneer of modernity Indian theatre
Long before she made her mark in cinema with Shyam Benegal’s ‘Kaliyuga’, Vijaya Mehta had already established herself as one of the leading voices of Marathi experimental theatre. In the 1960s, he co-founded the influential theater group Rangayan with Vijay Tendulkar, Sriram Lagoo and Arvind Deshpande, helping to redefine contemporary Indian theatre.His contribution to films was equally significant. As an actor, he has given memorable performances in films like Govinda Nihalani’s ‘Party’, while his directorial venture ‘Rao Saheb’ won widespread critical acclaim.
Finally, Shabana Azmi fulfilled her wish
A long-time admirer of Vijaya Mehta’s work, Shabana Azmi revealed that she repeatedly requested the director to cast her in one of his productions. That wish finally came true with ‘Pestonji’, where Azmi played the memorable role of Zeru.“I persuaded him to cast me in his play or film. Finally he succumbed to the pressure and cast me in ‘Pestonji’, which I have not done any other role,” Azmi said.
Vijaya Mehta’s celebrated achievement
Vijaya Mehta’s remarkable career was recognized with several prestigious honours. He received the Sangeet Nataka Akademi Award in 1975 in recognition of his immense contribution to Indian theatre.Her acclaimed directorial venture ‘Rao Saheb’ won her the National Film Award for Best Supporting Actress in 1986, while her performance in Govinda Nihalani’s ‘Party’ won her the Best Actress award at the Asia Pacific Film Festival, cementing her legacy as one of India’s finest creative talents.
