Indian film and theater circles continue to mourn the passing of the legendary actor-director Vijaya Mehta, Shabana Azmi A heartfelt tribute to her mentor and collaborator. Looking back on their association, Azmi praised Mehta not only for her immense artistic legacy but also for her warmth, humor and humility that made her unforgettable on and off the sets.While praising Mehta’s extraordinary artistic legacy, the veteran actress also fondly recalled the filmmaker’s inability to crack jokes.
Forgotten quips became her trademark
Talking about the experience of working with Vijaya Mehta, the “Pestonjee” actor said: “Despite her immense talent as an actor, she was terrible at telling jokes. She inevitably messed up the punch lines.” She also remembers how Mehta’s son Devon would often react in disbelief whenever she didn’t understand a joke.“Her son Devin would wring his hands in despair, but she would keep going without fear until she admitted, ‘Arre, mee main line visrun geli!’ This was her way of putting the frightened actors at ease,” Azmi recalls.
modern pioneer indian theater
Even before she made her mark in the film industry with Shyam Benegal’s Kalyug, Vijaya Mehta was already one of the leading voices in Marathi experimental theatre. In the 1960s, she helped redefine contemporary Indian theater by co-founding the influential Rangayan theater group with Vijay Tendulkar, Shriram Lagoo and Arvind Deshpande.Her contribution to film was equally important. As an actress, she gave memorable performances in films like Govind Nihalani’s Party, while her directorial effort Rao Saheb won critical acclaim.
Shabana Azmi finally gets her wish
Shabana Azmi, a long-time admirer of Vijaya Mehta’s work, has revealed that she has repeatedly asked the director to cast her in one of his films. This wish finally came true in Pestonjee, in which Azmi played the unforgettable role of Jeru.“I pestered her to feature me in one of her plays or films. Finally she succumbed to the pressure and offered me Jeru in ‘Pestonjee’, a role unlike any other I had played before,” Azmi said.
Notable achievements of Vijaya Mehta
Vijaya Mehta’s remarkable career has been blessed with several prestigious accolades. In 1975, she received the Sangeet Natak Academic Award in recognition of her immense contribution to Indian theatre.Her critically acclaimed directorial effort “Rao Saheb” won her the 1986 National Film Award for Best Supporting Actress, while her performance in Govind Nihalani’s “Party” won her the Asia Pacific Film Festival Award for Best Actress, cementing her status as one of India’s finest creative talents.