Former Bollywood actress Mamta Kulkarni, who recently embraced ascetic life at the Maha Kumbh Mela 2025 by joining the Kinnar Akhara, found herself at the center of controversy after being conferred the title of Mahamandaleshwar. Her tenure, however, was short-lived, lasting only seven days due to opposition from several Hindu religious leaders.
In a candid appearance on Aap Ki Adalat, Mamta reflected on her spiritual journey and past experiences. She shared that her devotion to religious practices began in 1997 when her Guru entered her life. Even during her Bollywood career, she maintained a strict spiritual routine, carrying a portable temple to her film shoots and performing daily rituals before work.
Recalling her Navratri fasting experience, Mamta described how she undertook intense spiritual practices, including performing havans multiple times a day and surviving solely on water. However, she admitted that despite her dedication, she indulged in alcohol on occasion. “I vowed to fast during Navratri, but for one or two years, I would also drink scotch only two pegs,” she revealed, explaining that fasting made her highly sensitive to alcohol, leading to extreme discomfort.
Looking back on that time, she shared, “This all happened between 1996-97. For two years, my Guru saw that Bollywood would not allow me to follow this path for long. That’s why he led me to a place of penance where I could be away from everything and everyone for 12 years.”
Her removal as Mahamandaleshwar was largely due to internal conflicts within the Kinnar Akhara, particularly tensions between its founder Ajay Das and Acharya Mahamandaleshwar Laxmi Narayan Tripathi. The discord eventually resulted in both Mamta and Tripathi being expelled. Mamta, however, clarified that she never sought the position, stating that she only accepted it under pressure from Acharya Laxmi Narayan Tripathi.
