Mandakini Height, Age, Boyfriend, Husband, Family, Biography & More

Some Lesser Known Facts About Mandakini

• Mandakini, an Indian actor and spiritual guide, rose to fame through her first Hindi film ‘Ram Teri Ganga Maili’ (1985).

• Mandakini began her professional journey as a model, engaging in numerous photoshoots. Here is a vintage photograph that captures her during one such professional session.

• Afterwards, she pursued a career as a model and appeared in numerous print advertisements. Mandakini was prominently showcased in one of the print ads.

• She agreed to sign the contract for the Hindi film ‘Mazloom’ in 1985, however, the film faced unexpected delays. The film’s producer suggested altering her name to Madhuri.

• In 1985, she entered the world of Bollywood with Raj Kapoor’s film ‘Ram Teri Ganga Maili’. The renowned Indian actor-director Raj Kapoor decided to rename her Mandakini, formerly known as Yasmeen/Yasmin. Her first film brought her tremendous fame, and she even received a nomination for Best Actress at the Filmfare awards. ‘Ram Teri Ganga Maili’ hit the screens in 1985.

• In the audition round for the Hindi films ‘Betaab’ (1981) and ‘Lava’ (1983), she faced rejection.

• In 1986, the renowned Indian musician Bappi Lahiri enlisted Mandakini to lend her voice for all the songs in his music album titled ‘Dancing City.’ Initially, the songs had been recorded by the Indian singer Nazia. However, due to a dispute between Bappi Lahiri and Nazia, Bappi decided to replace her with Mandakini for the ‘Dancing City’ album.

• In addition to her work in Hindi films, Mandakini has also appeared in Telugu and Bengali movies, including ‘Bhargava Ramudu’ (Telugu; 1987) and ‘Antarer Bhalobasha’ (Bengali; 1991). Here is the film poster for ‘Bhargava Ramudu’.

• Afterwards, she went on to star in several Hindi films, such as ‘Aag Aur Shola’ (1986), ‘Pyaar Karke Dekho’ (1987), ‘Pyaar Mohabbat’ (1988), ‘Hisaab Khoon Ka’ (1989), and ‘Taqdeer Ka Tamasha’ (1990). In particular, ‘Hisaab Khoon Ka’ was released in 1989.

• A film production house called ‘A.M.A Productions’ was established in 1990 by Mandakini, along with her secretary Ajit Dewan and actor Aditya Pancholi. The name of the production house was derived from their initials. However, following a disagreement between the partners, Mandakini decided to part ways and left the production house.

• In 1995, she faced significant backlash due to rumors of her involvement with Indian gangster Dawood Ibrahim. A photo of her with Dawood at a cricket stadium in Dubai quickly spread in the media. As a result, Indian producers ceased to cast her in films due to her tarnished public image. In 1996, she starred in the Hindi film ‘Zordaar,’ after which she decided to leave the Hindi film industry. During a 2005 interview, she addressed the association with Dawood and stated that she had no connection to him. She clarified that the photo published a decade ago was taken during one of her performances in Dubai where she happened to meet Dawood, just like any other filmmaker would. Their encounter did not involve any romantic relationship. Unfortunately, the photograph published in 1994-95 had a negative impact on her career. False claims were made that she was married to Dawood and had a child with him. In reality, she is happily married to a Mumbai-based doctor named R Thakur, and they have a child together. Their marriage occurred in 1990. The film ‘Zordaar’ poster.

• Following her departure from the film industry, she immersed herself in diverse spiritual pursuits. During an interview, she shared, “When I was seeking solace from the demanding film industry many years ago, I was fortunate to discover Tibetan yoga. My husband, who has a deep fascination with spirituality, guided me as my teacher.” Mandakini and her partner were privileged to have the 14th Dalai Lama accompany them on their spiritual journey.

• In his childhood, Dr. Kagyur T. Rinpoche Thakur, Mandakini’s husband, was showcased as a Murphy radio child. The childhood photo of Mandakini’s husband portrays him as the charming face of Murphy advertisements.

• Mandakini returned to the Hindi entertainment industry after a 26-year hiatus with the release of the Hindi music video “Maa O Maa” in 2022. During an interview, her brother Bhanu revealed that while accompanying her to the Durga Puja pandals in Kolkata, he observed her immense popularity among fans. This inspired him to suggest that she should consider returning to acting. Subsequently, she was offered the lead role in a serial called Chhoti Sardani, but Mandakini graciously declined and recommended Anita Raaj for the role instead.

• The role of Sonakshi Sinha, an Indian actress, in the Hindi film ‘Once Upon A Time In Mumbaai Dobaara!’ (2013) was inspired by the real-life story of Mandakini.

• Mandakini, a devoted dog lover, is the proud owner of a pet dog named Simba. She is often seen accompanied by her loyal canine companion.

• Mandakini has been honored with numerous accolades for her exceptional acting abilities, including the prestigious Golden Jubilee Awards. Graciously displaying her well-deserved award, Mandakini shines with pride.

• In England, her grandfather on her father’s side was a wealthy individual who played a crucial role in the installation of the very first underwater telephone cables.

• Mandakini has graced the cover of several Indian magazines, showcasing her stunning appearance.