Former Bollywood star Mamta Kulkarni, known for films like Karan Arjun, Sabse Bada Khiladi, and Baazi, has officially renounced worldly life to embrace spirituality. She has now taken the name Mai Mamta Nand Giri after undergoing the sanyas ritual at the Kinnar Akhara during the ongoing Maha Kumbh pilgrimage in Uttar Pradesh.

According to Indian media reports, Kulkarni performed the pind daan ceremony to honor her ancestors before being conferred the title of mahamandaleshwar—a prestigious designation within the Dashanami order of Hindu monks. Speaking to the press, she revealed that she had to pass a rigorous examination to attain this title, where she was questioned about her spiritual journey spanning over two decades.

The former actress, who left Bollywood in 2002, shared that she had been drawn to spirituality since 1996, a path that intensified after meeting Guru Gagan Giri Maharaj. She spent over a decade practicing penance, including 12 years of celibacy while residing in Dubai. Addressing speculation about a potential return to Bollywood, she stated, “Some fans are upset, but everything happens according to divine will.”

Kulkarni’s spiritual transformation follows years of controversy. In 2016, her name was linked to an alleged drug trafficking case involving the illegal supply of ephedrine for methamphetamine production. Authorities suspected she and her partner, Vicky Goswami, were in Kenya, coordinating logistics for the operation. However, in 2023, the Bombay High Court dismissed all charges against her, ruling that the case was baseless and lacked evidence of her involvement.

With her new spiritual identity, Kulkarni now fully dedicates herself to monastic life, leaving behind a past marked by Bollywood fame and legal troubles.