Actress Mamta Kulkarni: From 90s Stardom to Sanyas as Yamai Mamta Nand Giri After 25 Years

It is said that you do not get success in the film industry just like that, many people spend their entire life just to get a chance here. Many people attain success but are unable to handle it. It is also said that becoming a star is a little easy but maintaining stardom is the most difficult. Many such actors in Bollywood touched heights at one time but after reaching there, they could not control themselves. They fell face down in such a way that no one could even lift them up. One such name is Mamta Kulkarni. She made some such mistakes in her life due to which she ruined her good career.

Actress Mamta Kulkarni, who made the audience crazy with her bold acting in the 90s, has turned 51 today. Mamta Kulkarni's life is no less than a film story. Mamta, who forced all the actresses of her time to show off with her hot photo shoots, is far away from films today. Today, on the occasion of her birthday, let's take a look at her journey from films till now...

Also worked in B-grade films

Bollywood actress Mamta Kulkarni of the 90s created a special identity in the hearts of the audience with her bold acts. She was born on 20 April 1972 in Mumbai. She started her career with the film 'Tiranga' released in 1992, in which she had a small role. The film 'Aashiq Awara' released in 1993 was Mamta's first hit film. She also worked in B-grade films several times.

Mamta’s topless photoshoot created a stir

In 1992, Mamta came into the limelight by doing a topless photoshoot for Stardust magazine. When this magazine came into the market in September 1993, people rushed to buy it. Mamta became a star overnight with this photo shoot. People had bought that issue of the magazine in black.

This incident happened at the time when Mamta was new in the film industry. No one even knew her. In those days, a new face was being searched for the cover shoot of 'Stardust Magazine'. Many big heroines had refused to do that shoot. At that time someone had suggested the name of Mamta Kulkarni. Mamta immediately agreed to this but as soon as she was told that she would have to go topless for this photoshoot, the ground slipped from under her feet. After thinking for some time, Mamta agreed but she placed a condition that only if she liked the photoshoot, it would be published otherwise not. The makers had agreed to this statement of Mamta. Mamta posed topless without any hesitation. Mamta liked this photoshoot and soon it came to the market. Mamta Kulkarni got a lot of fame through this photoshoot. However, some people did not like Mamta being topless.

Was seen in sensuous song

Mamta was cast opposite Salman in Karan Arjun. A sensuous song 'Mujhko Rana Ji..' from this film added to Mamta's fame. Even after working with big actors like Salman and Aamir, Mamta was not able to get the stardom that she wanted.

Later Mamta came to be known as the Rejection Queen in Bollywood. Mamta had refused to work with many superstars like Ajay Devgan, Shahrukh Khan, and Salman Khan. Mamta also refused to do many films like 'Sapoot', 'Angare', 'Mr. and Mrs. Khiladi', 'Bandhan', 'Aunty No. 1', and 'Hogi Pyar Ki Jeet'. Big directors like Rakesh Roshan, and Raj Kumar Santoshi started visiting Mamta's house to cast her in the film.

Mamta accused Rajkumar Santoshi of sexual exploitation

Mamta accused director Rajkumar Santoshi, producer of 1998's 'China Gate', of sexual exploitation. After this, Santoshi also accused Mamta of getting threats from the underworld. Seeing such controversies, people started distancing themselves from Mamta.

Married a drug smuggler

Famous producers and directors expressed their desire to cast Mamta Kulkarni in their films and from here a new path to stardom began for Mamta Kulkarni. But who knew that after a few years, that fame and stardom would take such a form? The career of Mamta Kulkarni, who was once at the pinnacle of glory, will be ruined like this. Initially, there were reports of Mamta's relations with underworld don Chhota Rajan, but after some time her name got linked with drug smuggler Vicky Goswami. It is said that both of them also got married. Vicky went to jail because of smuggling. After this, Mamta became immersed in devotion and wrote a book named 'Autobiography of a Yogin'. On her return to Bollywood, she asked whether it was possible to convert ghee into milk again.

Mamta Kulkarni Turns Sanyasi After 25-Year Return

Mamta Kulkarni, a prominent Bollywood actress of the 1990s, has recently returned to the public eye after a prolonged absence. In August 2024, the Bombay High Court quashed the 2016 drug case against her, citing insufficient evidence and deeming the proceedings "manifestly frivolous and vexatious" . Following this legal vindication, Kulkarni returned to Mumbai after 25 years, expressing her emotions about being back in India through a heartfelt Instagram video ​

In January 2025, during the Maha Kumbh Mela in Prayagraj, she embraced a spiritual path by taking sanyas and was bestowed the title of Mahamandaleshwar by the Kinnar Akhara, adopting the name Yamai Mamta Nand Giri. However, later that month, she was expelled from the Akhara due to allegations concerning her past associations.​

Despite these developments, Kulkarni has expressed no intention of returning to the film industry, stating that she "can't imagine doing films again" after embracing her spiritual journey.

Read also:

• Mamta Kulkarni told the real reason for returning to India after 25 years
  
• Mamta Kulkarni Takes Vows, Becomes Mahamandaleshwar of the Kinnar Akhada
• Mamta Kulkarni denies claims of offering ₹10 crore to become Mahamandaleshwar
• Mamta Kulkarni shares an anecdote from the shooting of Karan Arjun