Bollywood actress Mamata Kulkarni recently clapped back at Baba Ramdev and Dhirendra Shastri of Bageshwar Dham for questioning the legitimacy of her title i.e. Mahamandaleshwar. For the unversed, actress Mamata Kulkarni took 'sanyas' by performing her own 'pind daan' and was soon anointed as the Mahamandaleshwar of the Kinnar Akhara at the Maha Kumbh Mela. She was given the name Yamai Mamta Nand Giri. However, due to her previous life, many famous saints and Babas questioned her appointment in Kinnar Akhara including Baba Ramdev and Dhirendra Shastri of Bageshwar Dham.
Recently, Mamata Kulkarni in an interview at Aap Ki Adalat was quoted about this. responding to it, Mamata Kulkarni made controversial remarks saying that during her time of Tapasya, Lord Hanuman came to her twice. "He is 'nappy' Dhirendra Shastri. His age is 25 years but I have done Tapasya for 25 years. The one whom he has impressed (sidha karke rakha hai) is Hanuman Ji. In my 23 years of Tapasya, Lord Hanuman has stayed with me twice. His (Baba Bageshwar) guru is Ram Bhadracharya. I just wanna say to Dhirendra Shastri Ji that his Guru has 'divya drishti' (divine sightings). Go and ask him who am I and sit down silently." Notably, Mamata Kulkarni in the interview also called herself a form of Aadishakti. Goddess Kali to be precise.
After Mamata Kulkarni was appointed as Mahamahamandaleshwar at Mahakumbh 2025, a major controversy erupted. As a result, the title given to Mamata Kulkarni by the Kinnar Akhara during the Mahakumbh 2025 was short-lived. She was stripped of the honour within a week due to internal tensions within the Akhara. The decision to remove her was made by Rishi Ajay Das, the founder of Kinnar Akhara, who cited that Mamta's appointment was not in line with the Akhara's traditions. Das also questioned her past, referencing her involvement in controversies and her association with the glamour industry.
Did Mamata Kulkarni buy Mahamandaleshwar title for Rs 10 crore?
Mamata Kulkarni also reacted to reports and accusations that she paid Rs 10 crore and bought the title of Mahamandaleshwar from Kinnar Akhara. "I don't even have Rs 1 crore. My back account is sealed by the government. You don't know how I am living my life. I took a loan of Rs 2 lakh from someone and gave it as a 'Guru Bhet'."
"I did not put my foot on the shores of India for the past 23 years because I took 'Sankalp Shakti' that the one who made allegations about me must be acquitted by the court. The case is now done and dusted. My name was put into the case just for publicity. You all know which officer took my name. He wanted to be Mumbai Police Commissioner. That's why I decided till the case is not over I will not come to India. The Supreme Court has tossed up the case and the officer who implicated my name has been removed and humiliated."
For those who are not aware, during her actress stint, Mamta Kulkarni's name was linked to underworld don Chhota Rajan. In 1998, rumors began circulating about her relationship with Rajan. Mamta Kulkarni's association with the underworld escalated after an incident on the set of China Gate. She was reportedly removed from the film after issues arose with the director, Rajkumar Santoshi. Allegedly, after receiving threats from Rajan and his associates, Kulkarni returned to the film.
In 2013, Mamta Kulkarni married Vicky Goswami (an international drug dealer). However, Mamata never accepted that she married Goswami. As per reports, Mamta Kulkarni's ties to the underworld and Goswami took a dangerous turn when, in 2016, she was named in a Rs 2000 crore drugs case alongside Goswami.