Mahakumbh: Actress Mamta Kulkarni Is Now Shri Yamai Mamta Nandgiri As She Becomes Sannyasi

Former Bollywood actress Mamta Kulkarni, known for her iconic performances in the 1990s, performed the sacred 'pind daan' ritual at Sangam Ghat in Prayagraj on Friday. The ceremony marks a significant spiritual step in her life, as she transitions into a new role as Mahamandleshwar of the Kinnar Akhada. She has now been bestowed with the spiritual name "Shri Yamai Mamta Nandgiri."

Acharya Mahamandleshwar Laxmi Narayan of Kinnar Akhada confirmed the announcement, stating, "Mamta Kulkarni has been associated with the Kinnar Akhada for over a year and a half. Today, she takes on the spiritual mantle of Mahamandleshwar. She is free to express devotion through art or any other form, as we encourage inclusivity in spirituality."

Speaking about her transformation, Mamta attributed the decision to divine guidance, saying, "This was the order of Mahadev, Maha Kaali, and my Guru. I am merely following their path."

Mamta Kulkarni was a celebrated star of the 1990s, having worked in blockbuster films like Karan Arjun, Baazi, and Sabse Bada Khiladi. She shared the screen with Bollywood legends Shah Rukh Khan, Salman Khan, and Aamir Khan, and even won the Filmfare Award for Lux New Face of the Year for her performance in Aashiq Awara. However, in the early 2000s, she chose to step away from Bollywood and lead a reclusive life abroad.

#WATCH | #MahaKumbh2025 | Pattabhisheka of former actress Mamta Kulkarni performed at Sangam Ghat in Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh.

Acharya Mahamandleshwar of Kinnar Akhada, Laxmi Narayan said that Kinnar akhada is going to make her a Mahamandleshwar. She has been named as Shri Yamai… pic.twitter.com/5hFfFTMe1s

— ANI (@ANI) January 24, 2025

Her career wasn't without controversy. In 2016, Mamta was named as a suspect in a ₹2,000 crore drug trafficking case involving the illicit manufacture of methamphetamine. Despite the allegations, she remained out of the public eye and refused to address the accusations.

Now, with her spiritual rebirth as Shri Yamai Mamta Nandgiri, she has embraced a life of devotion and renunciation, marking a striking shift from her glamorous past to a deeply spiritual present.