Uncle of Rohanna Mehta .When the conductor moved to Los Angeles in 1974, he bought actor Steve McQueen 's former Brentwood home for $400,000.Has a son, Mervon Mehta (aka Merwin Mehta) (born in 1959), and a daughter, Zarina Mehta (born in 1961).His ex-wife, Carmen Lasky, is married to his brother, Zarin Mehta .Awarded Kennedy Center Honors in 2006, with Dolly Parton , Smokey Robinson , Steven Spielberg , and Andrew Lloyd Webber .Former conductor of the Los Angeles Symphony.Good friends with Daniel Barenboim and his former wife Jacqueline du Pré .Music Director of the Bavarian State Opera from 1998 to 2006.Is mentioned in Frank Zappa 's song "Billy the Mountain".The "The Muppet Show" (1976)'s character Zubin Beckmesser is named after him.Has been Music Director for Life of the Israel Philhamonic Orchestra since 1981.