Former Bollywood actress and now Mahamandaleshwar of Kinnar Akhara, Mamta Kulkarni, has ruled out any possibility of returning to films, firmly stating that her transformation into a spiritual figure is irreversible. Appearing on Aap Ki Adalat with Rajat Sharma, the ex-film star dismissed allegations of paying Rs 10 crore to attain her religious title and shared intriguing anecdotes from her past, including her interactions with Bollywood superstars like Shah Rukh Khan and Salman Khan.

Dressed in saffron robes, Kulkarni maintained her unwavering stance on renouncing the film industry, saying, “Just as milk that turns into ghee cannot regain its original form, I will never return to films.” She emphasized that she has been living the life of a tapaswini (ascetic) for 23 years, making it clear that there is no question of returning to the silver screen, despite fans still requesting her comeback, the news network said in a press release.

Addressing the controversy surrounding her appointment as Mahamandaleshwar, Kulkarni denied claims that she paid a hefty sum to secure the position. “Forget Rs 10 crore, I don’t even have Rs 1 crore. My bank accounts are frozen. When I was made Mahamandaleshwar, I had to borrow Rs 2 lakh from someone just to offer as dakshina to my guru,” she revealed. She further added that her three apartments remain untouched and are in a dilapidated state, having been closed for over two decades.

Kulkarni also spoke about the legal troubles she faced, stating that a CBI officer had wrongfully added her name to a case for personal gains. “He wanted to become Commissioner, but in the end, he was removed in a humiliating manner. The High Court dismissed the case against me,” she claimed.

The former actress, known for films like Karan Arjun, Krantiveer, Sabse Bada Khiladi, and Tiranga, fondly recalled moments with her co-stars. Speaking about a prank played on her by Shah Rukh Khan and Salman Khan during the shooting of Karan Arjun, she recounted, “The night before a dance sequence, the choreographer told me that I had to perform alone. I completed my take in one shot, only to find both SRK and Salman hiding behind bushes, laughing. Later, they had to walk on their knees for a scene, and there were 25 retakes in front of a crowd of 5,000 people.”

When asked who among the two was more mischievous, she quickly responded, “Zyada sharaarati Salman tha” (Salman was more mischievous).”

Kulkarni also addressed why, despite being a top actress, she agreed to do an item song in Rajkumar Santoshi’s Ghatak. She explained that Santoshi had personally requested her to step in as the film was delayed for seven years due to issues with its lead actress, Meenakshi Seshadri. “I treated my dance number like a stage performance, which I was good at,” she said.

When questioned about posing semi-nude for Stardust magazine in the ’90s, Kulkarni revealed that she was in the ninth standard at the time and had been shown a picture of Demi Moore, which she did not find obscene. “I had once said, ‘I am still a virgin,’ because I didn’t even know anything about sex or nudity back then. In the last 23 years, I have not even watched pornography,” she stated.

Defending her past performances in films with bold lyrics, she said, “Like Madhuri Dixit, we dancers do not pay attention to lyrics. Our sole focus is on the dance steps.”

Mamta Kulkarni also responded to Swami Ramdev’s remark that anyone can become a Mahamandaleshwar by offering money. Choosing her words carefully, she said, “I leave this to Ramdev Baba. What should I say?”

She was, however, more vocal in her criticism of Bageshwar Dham Baba, Dhirendra Shastri, calling him “Nappy Dhirendra Shastri” and asserting that she has undergone far more intense penance than him. “I have meditated for three months straight. I went without water for five days. On the 15th day, Maa Bhagwati appeared before me,” she claimed.

Despite fans on Instagram urging her to be part of a Karan Arjun sequel, Kulkarni firmly rejected the idea. “I have chosen my path. Ab lautne ka sawaal nahin uthta (There is no question of returning),” she declared.

Her powerful statements in Aap Ki Adalat showcased her complete transformation from a Bollywood starlet to a spiritual leader, leaving audiences intrigued by her journey.