English theatre veteran Farrokh Mehta passes away at 91

Renowned actor-director Farrokh Mehta, aged 91, passed away in the early hours of Thursday at his residence on Nepean Sea Road in Mumbai. Having made significant contributions to English theatre in the city, Mehta leaves behind his wife, Vijaya Mehta, a stalwart of the theatre community, and their daughter, Anahita Uberoi, who is also an actor-director. He was laid to rest at the Banganga crematorium later in the day. Mehta's most recent appearance was in the web show Rocket Boys.


Reflecting on her father, Anahita expressed that he possessed a youthful spirit and inquisitiveness, making him seemingly the youngest member of the family. She further described him as a remarkably positive and forward-thinking individual with a great sense of humour. Anahita, who was scheduled to present a talk on English Theatre in Mumbai alongside her father next weekend, will now proceed with the event alone, dedicating it to his memory.


Throughout his illustrious career spanning six decades, Mehta showcased his talent in over 30 English plays, including iconic productions such as Girish Karnad's Tughlaq, Edward Albee's The Zoo Story, Partap Sharma's A Touch of Brightness, and Arthur Miller's Death of a Salesman. Additionally, he directed seven plays for the Theatre Group Bombay (TGB), which included esteemed members like Pearl and Alyque Padamsee, as well as Gerson da Cunha, among others. Mehta also made appearances in Gujarati plays and a few Hindi films.


Raell Padamsee, daughter of Pearl and Alyque Padamsee, fondly remembers Farrokh as a person who exuded a love for life and possessed a great sense of fun. In 2019, Thespo honoured Farrokh with a Lifetime Achievement Award for his remarkable contributions to the field of theatre.