Mandakini's Journey: From Yasmeen Joseph to Bollywood Stardom

Mandakini, originally Yasmeen Joseph, first gained attention through provocative photos taken by photographer JP Singhal, who showed them to filmmaker Raj Kapoor

Raj Kapoor cast Yasmeen, renamed Mandakini, in the lead role of his film "Ram Teri Ganga Maili," catapulting her to overnight stardom

The film, filled with controversial scenes, especially of Mandakini in a transparent white saree, sparked widespread debate and media frenzy

"Ram Teri Ganga Maili" was Raj Kapoor's last directorial venture and received tremendous acclaim both in India and abroad

Despite her initial success, Mandakini's subsequent films were largely unsuccessful, leading to her reputation as a flop heroine

Mandakini later moved to Dubai, where she was frequently seen with notorious smuggler Dawood Ibrahim, which tarnished her reputation and closed doors for her in India

Denying any connection with Dawood, her public appearances with him suggested otherwise, further complicating her career

After struggling to find film roles, Mandakini transitioned to teaching Tibetan Yoga and now resides in Mumbai with her family

At 58, she remains interested in returning to the film industry but faces challenges due to her age and past controversies