Vijaya Mehta was born Vijaya Jaywant in Baroda, Gujarat in 1934 in a CKP family. She graduated from Mumbai University. She studied theatre with Ebrahim Alkazi in Delhi and with Adi Marzban.

She became a major figure in 60s Marathi experimental theatre. She is a founder member of theatre group, Rangayan with playwright Vijay Tendulkar, Arvind Deshpande and Shreeram Lagoo.

Her stage production of C. T. Khanolkar's Ek Shoonya Bajirao is considered as a landmark in contemporary Indian theatre. She introduced Bertold Brecht into Marathi theatre with adaptation of The Caucasian Chalk Circle (Ajab Nyay Vartulacha), and Ionesco with Chairs.

She collaborated on Indo-German theatre projects with German director Fritz Bennewitz including a traditional performance of Bhasa's Mudrarakshasa with German actors. Except Pestonjee, most of her work consists of film and television adaptations of her stage plays.

She was awarded the 1975 Sangeet Natak Akademi Award for excellence in Direction, in 1986 she won the National Film Award for Best Supporting Actress for her role in Rao Saheb (1986).

She first married Harin Khote, son of actress Durga Khote, however he died at an early age, leaving behind two young sons. Thereafter, she married Farrokh Mehta.

• Kalyug (1981) - Actor
• Smriti Chitre (1982, TV film) - Director, Actor a
• Shakuntalam (1986, TV film) - Director
• Party (1984) - Actor
• Rao Saheb (1985) - Director, Screenwriter, Actor
• Haveli Bulund Thi (1987, TV film) - Director
• Hamidabai Ki Kothi (1987, TV film) - Director
• Pestonjee (1988) - Director, Screenwriter
• Lifeline (1991, TV Series) - Director
• Riding the bus with my sister (2005) - Actor
• Quest (2006) - Actor

• 1975 Sangeet Natak Akademi Award
• 1985 Asia Pacific Film Festival: Best Actress: Party
• 1986 National Film Award for Best Supporting Actress: Rao Saheb^[7]
• 2009 Tanveer Sanmaan ^[8]

• Theatre in India

• Abode of Colour, an autobiographical account by Vijaya Mehta^[9]
• Vijaya Mehta on theatre and Guru Mani Madhava Cakyar [2]