Former Bollywood actress Mamta Kulkarni, a prominent figure in 90s Bollywood, has officially taken sanyaas at the ongoing Maha Kumbh in Uttar Pradesh. Mamta is currently in Prayagraj, where she renounced her worldly life to assume the title of “Mahamandleshwar” of the Kinnar Akhara.
On Friday morning, Mamta met Acharya Mahamandaleshwar Dr Lakshmi Narayan Tripathi to seek her blessings before embarking on this spiritual journey. Speaking to ANI, Laxmi Narayan said that Mamta has been given a spiritual name, “Yamai Mamta Nandgiri.”
Meanwhile, videos of Mamta Kulkarni have been going viral, showing her taking a holy dip into the Ganga River wearing a Rudraksh garland and a saffron-coloured outfit. Talking about Mamta’s appointment as Mahamandleshwar, Dr Tripathi said, ”Kinnar Akhada is going to make Mamta Kulkarni (former Bollywood actress) a Mahamandleshwar.”
“She has been named as Shri Yamai Mamta Nandgiri. As I am talking here, all the rituals are underway. She has been in touch with Kinnar Akhada and me for the last one and a half years… She is allowed to perform the character of any devotional figure if she wants, as we do not prohibit anyone from performing their art,” she added.
#WATCH | Prayagraj | Acharya Mahamandleshwar of Kinnar Akhada, Laxmi Narayan says, “Kinnar akhada is going to make Mamta Kulkarni (former Bollywood actress) a Mahamandleshwar. She has been named as Shri Yamai Mamta Nandgiri. As I am talking here, all the rituals are underway. She… pic.twitter.com/gF25BlKcEh
Further, sharing her experience of becoming a ‘sanyaasi,’ the former Bollywood star told news agency ANI, ”This was the order of Mahadev, Maha Kaali. This was the order of my Guru. They chose this day. I didn’t do anything.”
Mamta Kulkarni had worked in several hit films in the 1990s alongside actors like Salman Khan, Shah Rukh Khan, Govinda, and others. Few films credited to her name include Karan Arjun, Krantiveer, Sabse Bada Khiladi, Andolan, and others. Her last Hindi film was the 2002 release, Kabhie Tum Kabhie Hum.