Mamata Kulkarni Opens Up On Her 'Obscene' Stardust Magazine Photoshoot: 'I Was Studying In Class 9'

Former actress Mamta Kulkarni, who recently renounced worldly life and took sanyas at the Maha Kumbh Mela 2025 by joining the Kinnar Akhara, has addressed her controversial semi-nude photoshoot from the 90s and her iconic item song 'Koi Jaye To Le Aaye' from the film 'Ghatak'.

In an appearance on 'Aap Ki Adalat', Mamta discussed her appearance on the cover of 'Stardust' magazine, stating that she did not consider it obscene at the time.

Photo Credit: PTI

She recalled, "I was then studying in Class 9. I was shown a picture of Demi Moore by the 'Stardust' people, which I did not find to be obscene. I also gave this statement at the time, 'I am still a virgin' and people couldn't digest that because, according to them, people do anything to enter Bollywood. People might do that and they might enter Bollywood for money, but that wasn't the case with me. My father was a transport commissioner for 35 years. Since I did not know anything about sex, I didn't know what was nudity about. If you are not sexually conscious, you won't relate nudity to obscenity."

Mamta was also asked about the bold lyrics in some of the songs she performed, to which she responded, "As Madhuri Dixit or anyone else, as dancers, we don't hear the lyrics or lines. Our sole focus is on our dance steps. I didn't pay attention to lyrics."

She also explained why she agreed to feature in the famous item song 'Koi Jaye To Le Aaye' from 'Ghatak', which starred Sunny Deol.

Mamta shared that she had just returned from a world tour with Salman Khan and Shah Rukh Khan before filming the song. She said, "The director Raj Kumar Santoshi requested me to do it. The movie was lying canned for seven years because of its heroine Meenakshi Seshadri, who got married and the film wasn't getting buyers. I went through my dance number as if I was doing a stage show, which I was good at."

While Mamta Kulkarni's association with the Kinnar Akhara made headlines, her tenure as Mahamandaleshwar was short-lived.

The organisation removed her from her position just days after her appointment, with Rishi Ajay Das, the founder of the Kinnar Akhara, explaining that the decision was made due to growing tensions within the religious body.