Former Bollywood star Mamta Kulkarni, 52, celebrated for her roles in 1990s hits like Karan Arjun alongside Shah Rukh Khan and Salman Khan, has made an emotional return to Mumbai after a 25-year absence. In a heartfelt video shared on Instagram, Kulkarni reflected on her journey back to Mumbai. “I just returned to ‘Aamchi Mumbai’ after 25 years,” she said, describing how seeing her homeland from the airplane window moved her to tears. “As the flight landed, I was emotional, with tears in my eyes. Setting foot outside Mumbai International Airport was overwhelming,” she shared.

Kulkarni rose to fame with roles in Bollywood films such as Aashiq Awara (1993), Baazi (1995), and China Gate (1998). Her bold on-screen persona and glamorous image made her a household name in the 1990s, earning her a place alongside the biggest stars of the era, including Shah Rukh Khan, Salman Khan and Aamir Khan.

Despite her stardom, Kulkarni abruptly left the film industry in 2000 and moved abroad, seeking a life away from the limelight. This sudden exit spurred years of speculation, compounded by her name surfacing in legal controversies.

In 2016, Kulkarni was named as an accused in a Rs. 2,000 crore drug trafficking case. Authorities alleged her involvement with Vicky Goswami, her reported partner, in a conspiracy to smuggle ephedrine for manufacturing methamphetamine. Investigators cited her presence at a meeting in Kenya linked to the alleged operation as evidence. However, in August 2024, the Bombay High Court quashed the charges against her, ruling that the accusations lacked substantial evidence. The court deemed her association with Goswami and attendance at the meeting insufficient grounds for conviction under the NDPS Act.

Kulkarni’s return coincides with her spiritual pursuits, as she plans to participate in the Maha Kumbh Mela in 2025. In her Instagram post, she noted that her return marked 12 years since attending the Kumbh Mela in 2012.