Mita Vashisht


Mita Vashisht is an Indian actress. Known for her work on screen, stage and television, she has played a wide range of roles. Her most prominent appearances includes; sci-fi television series Space City Sigma, Pachpan Khambe Laal Deewarein, Swabhimaan, Devyani in Kuch Khatti Kuch Meethi,Alaan to Trishna in Kahani Ghar Ghar Ki and Jethi Maa in Kaala Teeka to film roles with a wide spectrum of directors with different cinema styles.

Early life

Mita Vashisht was born on 2 November 1967 in Pune, Maharashtra, India to Captain Rajeshwar Dutt Vashisht, who retired as a colonel from the Indian Army and Meenakshi Mehta Vashisht, a teacher and a singer.
She graduated from the National School of Drama in 1987 and did her post-graduation in literature from Punjab University, Chandigarh. Vashisht was for several years also visiting faculty to some of the design, film and theatre institutes of India – the NIFT, FTII, NSD and the NID. She has also conducted theatre workshops in the UK and in Damascus. She teaches students of fashion design, film direction and acting, using theatre techniques. She is married to filmmaker Anup Singh.

Career

Vashisht has played the lead roles in the avant-garde cinemas, the middle of the road cinemas as well as in successful big budget Bollywood films. She has worked in theatre as actress and director too. She researches and writes her 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.
Vashisht has written and produced three short films, as well as a serial for television. She was the executive producer of the film The Name of a River, a BFI - NFDC - Bangladesh film co-production.
In June 2001, Vashisht established Mandala, which is a 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 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..
As artistic director of Mandala she created Mandala TAM, which is 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.
In 2023, she was appointed by the state of Haryana as the Chairperson of the Governing Council of Haryana Film and Entertainment.

Theatre

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.

Film and television

Vashisht has produced and directed television programs and documentaries. In 2012 she directed the documentary film She, of the Four Names, commissioned by Public Services Broadcasting Trust, India. based on Lal Ded.
In recent years Vashisht played a key role in Ekta Kapoor's Kahani Ghar Ghar ki. She played the role of the principal on the show Suvreen Guggal on Channel V India and Akbar's evil stepmother in the serial, Jodha Akbar on Zee TV. She was appreciated by the audience for her negative portrayal of Jethi Maa from TV Series Kaala Teeka.

Selected filmography

Key
Music videos and Singing

Television

YearSerialRoleNotes
1989Space City Sigma
1989Bharat Ek KhojSuhasini
1989Mr Yogi
1993Pachpan Khambe Lal Deewarein
1994SwabhimaanDevika
1994KirdaarVarious Roles
1997GhumRain Movies
1998SaalgiraahRain Movies
1999Vijay JyotiZEE TV NETWORK
1999Hip Hip Hurray
1999–2000Star Bestsellers
2001KaaunBalaji Television
2001Khauff
2005Bombay Lawyers
2005–08Kahani Ghar Ghar KiTrishna AgarwalBalaji Television
2012–13Suvreen Guggal – Topper of The Year
2015Sense8NETFLIX
2015Kaala TeekaJethi MaaDJs a Creative Venture
2015Jodhaa AkbarMah Chuchak BegumZee TV Network
2017Koi Laut Ke Aaya HaiBhairavi "Kalyani" DeviSphere Origins Production House
2019Criminal JusticeMandira MathurHotstar
2020Your HonorKiran SekhonSony LIV
2020Criminal Justice: Behind Closed DoorsMandira MathurDisney+ Hotstar
2023Jaanbaaz Hindustan KeMahira RizviZEE5
2023KaalaChief Minister Jyoti SenDisney+Hotstar
2025Criminal Justice: A Family MatterMandira MathurJioHotstar

Film Jury member

Awards