Mamta Kulkarni

Prayagraj (Uttar Pradesh) [India], February 11 : Former Bollywood actress Mamta Kulkarni has stepped down from her role as Mahamandaleshwar of the Kinnar Akhada after facing heavy backlash and internal disputes.Her resignation follows questions about her spiritual standing and her past in the film industry.The Kinnar Akhada had earlier expelled the 'Karan Arjun' actress and her mentor, Laxmi Narayan Tripathi, citing tensions within the religious group.Kulkarni announced her resignation in a video shared on her Instagram. "Main Mahamandaleshwar Yamai Mamta Nandagiri, main iss post se istifa de rahi hoon. Aaj Kinnar Akhade ya dono akhade ke beech jo mujhe leke problems ho rahi hain. Main ek Sadhvi thi 25 saal se aur main Sadhvi hi rahungi," she said. "Bollywood ko maine 25 saal pehle chhoda. Main apne aap gayab rahi. Warna makeup se, Bollywood se itna door kaun rehta hai?" she added. The controversy over Mamta Kulkarni's appointment as Mahamandaleshwar began when Acharya Lakshmi Narayan Tripathi publicly announced the decision during the Maha Kumbh.Mamta Kulkarni, known for her roles in popular 1990s Bollywood films, had stepped away from the limelight in the early 2000s. However, she made a return to India and was granted the position of Mahamandaleshwar by Tripathi.Transgender Kathavachak Jagatguru Himangi Sakhi Maa had earlier raised concerns over Kulkarni's appointment, questioning her credibility and linking her past to criminal activities."Mamta Kulkarni has been made Mahamandaleshwar for publicity. Society knows her past very well. She was even jailed in the past in connection with drug cases. This needs investigation," Himangi Sakhi said in a conversation with ANI.

Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], December 18 : Actress Mamta Kulkarni talked about coming back to Mumbai after 25 years and her relations with Vicky Goswami. In a conversation with ANI, she said, "I have not come back for Bollywood and I am not planning to make a return as an actress.." On talking about her connection with Vicky Goswami, she added, "I have no connection with D(drug) world as I never met these people. Yes, I got connected with Vicky Goswami......in 1996 my spiritual, journey started and a guru came into my life during that time...." "Vicky called me when he was in jail in Dubai to come and meet him.. and I when met him...I spent 12 years...'mai dhayn tap aur puja path is mein agarasar ho gayi' and when he came out of jail in 2012,, my all desires were finished by that time..either to fall in love or get married..nothing was left and he came out of jail and I had decided until he would come out, I won't go back to India....then he went to Kenya and I came to India for Kumbh mela in around 2012-2013...I went straight to Allahabad(now Prayagraj) from Dubai for ten days and then went back to Dubai." In 2017, Thane Police issued a non-bailable warrant against actress Mamta Kulkarni and drug lord Vicky Goswami in connection with a drug haul case. The name of the duo surfaced in the connection based on which a chargesheet was filed. In January, Goswami, Ibrahim and Baktash Akasha as well as Gulam Hussein were extradited from Kenya to the U.S. All of them were arrested in November 2014 in a sting operation by the U.S.Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) who was posing as Colombian drug dealers. "... .Vicky went back to Kenya, and once or twice I went to meet him and came back to Dubai..he had already been accused in Kenya and I was not with him during that time...2016-2024 see apne liye tapsaya kiya", she added,, "now I am not in touch with him, I last contacted him in 2016.."Meanwhile, the actress recently took to her Instagram account to share that she has finally landed in Mumbai. In the video, Mamta expressed her feelings of nostalgia and emotion as she revisited her homeland.The actress shared that her journey out of India began in 2000, and now in 2024, she was finally back. Mamta also said she became emotional when the flight was about to land, seeing her country from above for the first time in over two decades. She also teared up while stepping out of Mumbai's international airport, overwhelmed by the significance of her return.In the video caption, Mamta wrote, "BACK TO MY MOTHERLAND AFTER 25 YEARS ATTENDED KUMBH MELA 2012 AFTER 12 YEARS AUSTERITY AND COME BACK EXACTLY AFTER 12 YEARS FOR ANOTHER MAHA KUMBH 2025."Mamta Kulkarni gained fame in the 1990s with her performances in hit films like 'Karan Arjun' and 'Baazi'. The actress has worked with top stars like Shah Rukh Khan, Salman Khan, and Aamir Khan during her career.However, in the early 2000s, Mamta stepped away from Bollywood and moved abroad, leading a life away from the limelight.