Legendary theatre actor, Akshara Theatre co-founder Jalabala Vaidya dies at 86

Legendary theatre actor Jalabala Vaidya is no more. The co-founder of Delhi's Akshara Theatre has passed away in the national capital on Sunday. She was 86-year-old. Jalabala Vaidya was suffering from respiratory ailments, her daughter and theatre director Anasuya Vaidya Shetty said.

Jalabala Vaidya was born in London. Her parents were Indian author and freedom fighter Suresh Vaidya and English classical singer Madge Franckeiss. Jalabala Vaidya started her career as a journalist. She contributed to a number of national newspapers and magazines in the national capital.

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Jalabala Vaidya received a number of prestigious awards such as Delhi government's Varisht Samman, Sangeet Natak Akademi's Tagore Award, Delhi Natya Sangh Award, the Andhra Pradesh Natya Akademi Honor, and Honorary Citizenship of the City of Baltimore, USA.

Jalabala Vaidya briefly married to journalist and columnist C.P Ramachandran. Subsequently, she wed playwright-poet Gopal Sharman.

Jalabala Vaidya's theatrical career began with "Full Circle" in 1968. She co-founded Akshara National Classical Theatre with Sharman.

Jalabala Vaidya played lead roles in over 20 plays. These plays include "Full Circle", "The Ramayana", "Let's Laugh Again", 'Larflarflarf', "The Bhagavad Gita", "The Cabuliwala", 'Gitanjali', and 'The Strange Case of Billy Biswas".

FAQs

1. What are Jalabala Vaidya's works?
   Jalabala Vaidya's works include "India Alive", "The Sufi Way", "The Kashmir Story", "Life Is But A Dream" and others.
2. Does Jalabala Vaidya have grandchildren?
   Jalabala Vaidya has three grandchildren singer-actor Nisa Shetty, writer Yashna Shetty, and actor Dhruv Shetty.