In a dramatic turn of events at the ongoing Maha Kumbh Mela in Prayagraj, Bollywood actress Mamta Kulkarni has been expelled from the Kinnar Akhara, a prominent religious sect associated with the LGBT community, along with Mahamandaleshwar Laxminaryan Tripathi, who had inducted her. This expulsion has sparked controversy, with allegations of mismanagement and violations of the Akhara’s internal rules.
Rishi Ajay Das, who claims to be the founder of the Kinnar Akhara, publicly accused Tripathi of inducting Kulkarni into the sect and designating her as Mahamandaleshwar without his consent or knowledge. He criticized Tripathi’s actions, calling them a violation of the Akhara’s principles, and announced plans to restructure the organization. The Kinnar Akhara, which falls under the larger Juna Akhada, has historically been involved in promoting discussions about Hinduism and the LGBT community. However, this incident has placed the Akhara at the center of a divisive controversy, with accusations of publicity-seeking motives.
Mamta Kulkarni, who had previously taken ‘sanyas’ by performing her own ‘pind daan’ ritual earlier this month, was appointed Mahamandaleshwar of the Kinnar Akhara at the Maha Kumbh Mela 2025. As part of her new identity, she also changed her name to Shri Yamai Mamta Nandgiri. Her sudden elevation within the religious community has drawn sharp criticism from various quarters, including prominent figures like yoga guru Baba Ramdev. Ramdev publicly questioned the rapid transition from a worldly life to sainthood, saying that it was “impossible” for anyone to achieve such a transformation in a single day. His comments were a thinly veiled critique of Kulkarni’s anointment, which many believed was more for sensationalism than spiritual merit.
The backlash intensified as transgender Kathavachak Jagatguru Himangi Sakhi Maa accused the Kinnar Akhara of using Kulkarni’s anointment for publicity purposes, further undermining the sanctity of the religious process. Sakhi Maa also pointed to Kulkarni’s troubled past, particularly her involvement in a high-profile drug trafficking case in 2016, as grounds to question her suitability for such a spiritual title. In that case, Kulkarni and her partner, Vicky Goswami, were named among the accused in a ₹2,000 crore international drug ring. Although the Bombay High Court quashed the case in 2023, citing insufficient evidence, the cloud of suspicion lingered around her.
Kulkarni’s Bollywood career in the 1990s had been marked by several hit films, including Tirangaa (1992), Aashiq Awara (1993), Krantiveer (1994), Karan Arjun (1995), and China Gate (2001). However, her personal life has been marred by controversy, culminating in her involvement in the drug trafficking scandal. Despite the legal reprieve, her reputation remains tarnished, and many question whether her sudden ascension to a religious title is a genuine spiritual transformation or a calculated move for publicity.
The events surrounding Mamta Kulkarni’s induction into the Kinnar Akhara raise important questions about the intersection of fame, religion, and spiritual titles. While the Kumbh Mela is a sacred occasion for millions of devotees, it has also become a platform for various individuals and groups to seek attention, and in some cases, to exploit the sanctity of the event for personal gain. This incident serves as a reminder that the commercialization of spirituality can undermine the integrity of religious institutions, especially when figures with questionable backgrounds are elevated to positions of prominence.
Ultimately, this controversy underscores a larger issue within Indian society—how spiritual and religious spaces are sometimes used as stepping stones for individuals seeking redemption or publicity. Whether Mamta Kulkarni’s expulsion will prompt a reevaluation of her spiritual journey remains to be seen, but it certainly casts a long shadow over the practices surrounding sainthood and religious titles in modern India.
