Mamta Kulkarni | |
|---|---|
| Born | Mamta Kulkarni (1972-04-20)20 April 1972 (age 52) Mumbai,Maharashtra, India |
| Occupations |
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| Years active | 1989–2003 |
| Partner(s) | Avinash Kumar Jha, Adarsh Kumar Jha, Rishabh Jain NPCL |
Mamta Kulkarni (born 20 April 1972)[1] is an Indian former actress and model turnedHindu monk known for her work inHindi cinema. One of the most successful actresses of her time, she has appeared in several commercially successfulHindi films such asWaqt Hamara Hai (1993),Krantiveer (1994),Karan Arjun (1995),Sabse Bada Khiladi (1995),Andolan (1995),Baazi (1996),China Gate (1998) andChhupa Rustam: A Musical Thriller (2001). Her performance inAashiq Awara (1993) won her the 1994Filmfare Award for Lux New Face of the Year. She quit the film industry after her appearance in the filmKabhie Tum Kabhie Hum.
After a long controversial life and disappearance of more than 20 years, Mamta announced hersanyas and becameMahamandaleshwar ofKinnar akhara during2025 Prayagraj Mahakumbh in presence of Acharaya Mahamandaleshvar of the same akhara,Lakshmi Narayan Tripathi.[2] She performed all the rituals includingPindadanam,Pattabhishekam, etc., after which she adopted the new nameYamai Mamta Nand Giri.[3][4][5][6]
Later on 31 January 2025, Rishi Ajai Das, founder of Kinnar Akhara expelled Mamta from akhara withLaxmi Narayan Tripathi and also removed both from the post of Mahamandaleshwar citing connection of Mamta withunderworld andDawood Ibrahim.[7]
Kulkarni was born on April 20, 1972, inMumbai,Maharashtra, into a middle-class MarathiBrahmin family. Her father, Mukund Kulkarni, was a former transport commissioner of Mumbai. She has two sisters. She was educated at St. Joseph's High School inJuhu. She actively participated in school plays and in cultural programs.
Kulkarni was in a relationship with Vicky Goswami until 2016.[8]
She was given a name "Shri Yamai Mamta Nand Giri" when she was made Mahamandaleshwar of Kinnar Akhada.[9][10])
Kulkarni made her film debut with the 1992 filmTirangaa. In 1993, she starred inAashiq Awara, which won her aFilmfare Award for Lux New Face of the Year. She went on to appear in many popular films such asWaqt Hamara Hai (1993),Krantiveer (1994),Karan Arjun (1995),Sabse Bada Khiladi (1995) andBaazi (1995). She mostly played the leading actor's love interest in all these films.
Things changed whenRajkumar Santoshi, in whose earlier movieGhatak: Lethal (1996) she had a cameo appearance in a song, cast her as the female lead in his 1998 filmChina Gate, an ambitious remake ofSeven Samurai. However, things did not go as planned. Relations between Santoshi and the actress soured. Rumours began circulating that Kulkarni had been dropped from the movie, and was reinstated only after gangsterChhota Rajan intervened on her behalf.[11] When the movie was finally released, it was an average earner. Furthermore, the only song in the movie, theitem number "Chamma Chamma", was picturised onUrmila Matondkar, even though Kulkarni had built her reputation with such numbers. To add insult to injury, the song turned out to be a chartbuster, which greatly increased Matondkar's popularity.[citation needed]
Angered and frustrated at the turn of events, Kulkarni lashed out at Santoshi, accusing him of cutting her screen time because she had refused his advances.[12] Santoshi denied all rumours related to the movie, and the matter was given a quiet burial. However, this proved to be the death blow to Kulkarni's career. She only appeared in a handful of movies after that, and new offers dried up. Her last successful film wasChhupa Rustam: A Musical Thriller (2001). She quit movies after the 2002 filmKabhie Tum Kabhie Hum. She also did a few movies in Kannada, Tamil, Telugu, Bengali and Malayalam.[13][14]
In June 2016, theThane Police named Kulkarni as one of the accused involved in supplyingephedrine for illicit manufacture ofmethamphetamine to a₹2000 crore international drug racket and gangster, intended for trafficking.[15] It is alleged that Kulkarni along with her partner Vicky Goswami and other co-accused attended a meeting in an international drug ring in Kenya in January 2016.[16]
In August 2024, the Bombay High Court quashed the 2016 drug case against former Bollywood actress Mamta Kulkarni, deeming the proceedings "manifestly frivolous and vexatious." The court concluded that the evidence was insufficient to sustain charges under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, noting that Kulkarni's mere presence at a meeting did not warrant prosecution. The judges emphasized that continuing the case would constitute an abuse of the judicial process.[17]
In January 2025, Mamta Kulkarni was appointedMahamandaleshwar of theKinnar Akhada at theMaha Kumbh Mela inPrayagraj. During the ceremony, she performed thePind Daan ritual at theTriveni Sangam and was given the spiritual name "Shree Yamai Mamta Nand Giri".[18]
However, Rishi Ajay Das, the founder of Kinnar Akhada, expelled both Mamta Kulkarni and her appointerLakshmi Narayan Tripathi from the Akhada during the Mela following massive outrage against this move.[19] Das accused Tripathi and others of committing an unconstitutional act and violating the principles ofSanatana Dharma by appointing Kulkarni, citing her alleged involvement in treason and link withD-Company.[20]
| Year | Title | Language | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1991 | Nanbargal | Tamil | Priya | Debut Film |
| 1992 | Mera Dil Tere Liye | Hindi | Priya R. Singh | |
| Tirangaa | Sandhya | |||
| Premasikharam | Telugu | Preeti | ||
| Donga Police | Gowri | |||
| 1993 | Bhookamp | Hindi | Kavita Anand | |
| Waqt Hamara Hai | Mamta Vidrohi | |||
| Ashaant | Sonali | Bilingual film | ||
| Vishnu Vijaya | Kannada | |||
| Aashiq Awara | Hindi | Jyoti | Filmfare Award for Lux New Face of the Year | |
| 1994 | Anokha Premyudh | Priti | ||
| Betaaj Badshah | Tejeshwani / Gudiya | |||
| Gangster | — | |||
| Dilbar | Priya Verma | |||
| Krantiveer | Mamta | |||
| Vaade Iraade | Nikita Sekhri | |||
| 1995 | Karan Arjun | Bindiya | ||
| Andolan | Guddi | |||
| Baazi | Journalist Sanjana Roy | |||
| Policewala Gunda | Sudha's sister | |||
| Sabse Bada Khiladi | Sunita Das | |||
| Kismat | Madhu | |||
| Ahankaar | Naina | |||
| Bhagya Debata | Bengali | Special appearance | ||
| 1996 | Raja Aur Rangeeli | Hindi | ||
| Beqabu | Reshmi Kapoor | |||
| Ghatak: Lethal | Dancer | (in song "Maara Re"), item number "Koi Jaaye To" | ||
| 1997 | Jeevan Yudh | Kajal Choudhry | ||
| Krantikari | Dancer | |||
| Naseeb | Pooja | |||
| 1998 | Jaane Jigar | Meena and Meenu | (Double Role) | |
| Qila | Neeta | |||
| China Gate | Sandhya | |||
| 1999 | Chandamama | Malayalam | Special appearance in the song "Rojaappoo Kavilathu" | |
| 2001 | Bangshadhar | Hindi | ||
| Censor | Nisha | |||
| Chhupa Rustam: A Musical Thriller | Sandhya | |||
| 2002 | Divine Temple Khajuraho | |||
| Kabhie Tum Kabhie Hum | Sumona | |||
| 2003 | Shesh Bongsodhar | Bengali | Antara | Bangladeshi Film |
| International | |
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| National | |
