Vijaya Mehta, a prominent figure in modern Marathi theatre and parallel cinema, dies at 91 in Mumbai, according to multiple reports. She was widely known as “Bai” and is described as a pioneer who helped reshape contemporary Marathi stage practices and influence generations of performers, directors, and filmmakers. Sources characterize her as a theatre director, actor and producer whose career spanned more than six decades. In addition to theatre, she is also noted for contributions to arthouse or parallel cinema, with several outlets highlighting the breadth of her work across stage and screen. The Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, pays tribute to her and calls her a pioneer of modern Marathi theatre. While accounts differ in emphasis—some focus more on her theatre legacy, others on her role in cinema—they converge on her stature as a major cultural personality and on her death at her residence in Mumbai. She leaves behind a body of work that sources describe as influential in both Indian theatre and film circles.