Once a Bollywood sensation, Mamta Kulkarni’s life has taken unexpected turns—from ruling the 90s film industry to renouncing showbiz for a spiritual journey.
Mamta Kulkarni opens up about her controversial Stardust photoshoot, hit songs, and Ghatak’s item number.
Once a sought-after name in Bollywood, Mamta Kulkarni has lived a life full of dramatic twists—both on and off the screen. From being one of the most glamorous stars of the 90s to stepping away from showbiz and eventually embracing spirituality, her journey has been anything but conventional. In a recent interview, Mamta reflected on some of the most talked-about moments of her career, including her bold Stardust magazine cover, the suggestive lyrics in her dance numbers, and her decision to feature in Ghatak’s hit item song “Koi Jaye To Le Aaye.”
Speaking on Aap Ki Adalat, Mamta opened up about the infamous Stardust shoot that had sparked controversy in the 90s. She revealed that at the time, she was just a ninth-standard student and had been shown a reference image of Demi Moore, which she did not find obscene. “I did not even understand what nudity was back then. If you are not sexually conscious, you don’t associate nudity with obscenity,” she said, adding that she had also asserted her virginity in interviews—a statement that many found hard to digest given Bollywood’s perceived stereotypes.
Addressing the suggestive lyrics in some of her hit songs, Mamta clarified that she never paid much attention to them. “As performers, our focus is entirely on the choreography, not the words. Like Madhuri Dixit and other dancers, I concentrated on executing my dance moves, not analyzing the lyrics,” she stated.
The actress also shed light on why she agreed to do Ghatak’s item number “Koi Jaye To Le Aaye.” Having just returned from a world tour with Salman Khan and Shah Rukh Khan, she revealed that performing the dance felt like an extension of her live stage performances. “Raj Kumar Santoshi personally requested me to do the song. The film had been shelved for years because Meenakshi Seshadri got married, and there were no buyers. I performed it with the same energy I would bring to a stage show,” she explained.
While Mamta’s spiritual transformation and association with the Kinnar Akhara recently made headlines, her appointment as Mahamandaleshwar was short-lived. The organization revoked her position within days, citing concerns over internal tensions. Founder Rishi Ajay Das confirmed the decision, marking yet another dramatic turn in Mamta Kulkarni’s ever-evolving life story.
