MITA VASHISHT

MITA VASHISHT – Film/TV Actress

Mita Vashisht was born on 2 November 1967 in Pune, Maharashtra, India to Rajeshwar Dutt Vasisht, a retired Colonel in the Indian Army and Meenakshi Mehta Vasisht, a teacher and musician. She is of Kumaoni descent.

A post-graduate in literature from Punjab University, Chandigarh and a graduate from the National School of Drama (Delhi) Vashisht is also visiting faculty to some of the premier design, film and theatre institutes of India – the NIFT (Delhi), FTII (Pune), NSD (Delhi) and the NID (Ahmedabad). She has also conducted theatre workshops in the UK (London, Birmingham, Leicester) and in Damascus. She teaches students of fashion design, film direction and acting, using theatre techniques.

Vashisht has worked in off-beat cinema as well as in commercial roles. She has worked in theatre and has written scripts as well. Since 2004, she has performed her solo play in English and Hindi, titled, Lal Ded, based on life of medieval Kashmiri mystic Lal Ded, all over India. 

Apart from acting, Vashisht is also actively involved in social work. She has worked with children in remand homes and with sex workers (she started a theatre troupe by enlisting 30 sex workers). 

Vashisht has written and produced three short films, as well as a serial for television. She has worked as executive producer on the award winning film The name of a River (A BFI (London)- NFDC (India)- Bangladesh film co-production).

In June 2001, Vashisht established Mandala, space for arts collaborations research and education. Its aim was to spearhead a new movement in the arts, to centre stage and individuate the performing arts in society (she considers that imperative, in the face of an electronic media onslaught) and to aid artistic collaborations.

Her first project under Mandala however took an unusual twist. A chance theatre workshop that she conducted with trafficked minors in a remand home in Mumbai led to four years of her full-time involvement with the cause of self- empowerment and rehabilitation of trafficked minors. (trafficked minors i.e. minor girls rescued from prostitution from the city brothels).

As artistic director of Mandala she created Mandala TAM (theatre arts module)--- a methodology and a training process based on the performing arts that proved to be highly successful in helping the trafficked minors to heal and transform mentally, physically, emotionally and intellectually.

She has also produced ad directed television programs and documentaries. She is working on She of the Four Names, commissioned by Public Services Broadcasting Trust, India. (PSBT) based on Lal Ded.

She currently plays the role of the uptight principal on the hit show Suvreen Guggal, which airs on Channel V India.

She has performed in the 75 minute solo theatre performance Lal Ded, based on the life and poetry of the iconic woman mystic and poet of Kashmir Lal Ded. Lal Ded performances have been invited to and featured in the following National/International theatre festivals in India and abroad.

• 2004: World Human Rights Day for the Ngo 'Akshara', Mumbai.
• 2005: The Hungry Heart Int. Theatre Festival, India Habitat Centre, Delhi.
• 2006: The Hungry Heart International theatre festival, Delhi.
• 2006: World theatre day, Pune. (Alliance Francaise)
• 2007: National Centre for the Performing Arts, Mumbai
• 2008: Bharangam (the Int. theatre festival, NSD Delhi) commemorating NSD's golden jubilee year.
• 2008: International Sufi Festival of Performing Arts, Srinagar, Kashmir.
• 2008: National Theatre Festival, Dehradun
• 2008: World Performing Arts Festival, Lahore, Pakistan.
• 2009: North Zone Cultural Centre Festival, Chandigarh.

Her works include:

Films:

Year	Film
1987	Var Var Vari
1989	Chandni
1989	Siddheshwari
1989	Jazeere
1990	Khayal Gatha
1990	Drishti
1990	Kasba
1991	Idiot
1994	Tarpan
1994	English August
1994	Drohkaal
1998	Dil Se..
1998	Zindagi Zindabad
1998	Ghulam
1999	Taal
2000	Snegithiye (Tamil)
2001	Maya
2001	Kuch Khatti Kuch Meethi
2002	Pitaah
2003	Patalghar (Bengali)
2004	Oops – Superb role
2006	Shevri (Marathi)
2009	Anubhav
2009	Aladin
2009	Antaheen
2011	Mujhse Fraaandship Karoge
2011	Trishna
2013	Gangoobai
2014	Youngistaan
2014	Rahasya

Others

• Featured in the main lead in Mann Ke Manjeere,
• Sung the vocals with Shubha Mudgal for the theme song Laaga Chunari Mein Daag. Producers; Yash Raj Films. 2007.

Television

Year	Serial
1988	Space City Sigma
1989	Bharat Ek Khoj
1989	Mr Yogi
1993	Pachpan Khambe Lal Deewarein
1994	Swabhimaan
1994	Kirdaar
1997	Ghum
1998	Saalgiraah
1999	Vijay Jyoti
1999–2000	Star Bestsellers
2001	Kaaun
2005	Bombay Lawyers
2005–07	Kahani Ghar Ghar Ki
2012–present	V Suvreen Guggal – Topper of The Year