It is a universally accepted fact that humans are prone to making mistakes. The public often idolises and overlooks the flaws of their favourite celebrities, but this leniency is only granted for human errors and not for participation in illegal or morally corrupt activities. Bollywood actress Mandakini serves as a reminder that this principle holds true even in the entertainment industry.
The Road to Recognition
In 1985, unlike current times, Bollywood enjoyed a great reputation among the masses. That year, a film named “Ram Teri Ganga Maili” hit the theatre screen. It saw Raj Kapoor and an elegant young actress Yasmin Joseph in the lead roles. The film also marked the debut of Raj Kapoor’s younger son Rajeev Kapoor.
The film gained a lot of traction not for its narrative but the portrayal of its actress. Several critics accused the film of peddling obscenity and having a negative impact on the viewers. Trampling these rudimentary opposition, the film turned out to be a blockbuster and Yasmeen Joseph earned the moniker, Mandakini.
Mandakini made a place in everyone’s heart with her beauty and acting prowess. To capitalise her fan-frenzy, every producer and director wanted to cast her in their film. Afterwards, she worked in the films “Singhasan”, “Dance Dance” and “Pyaar Karke Dekho” among others. Those films too were box-office successes.
Links with Underworld led to her downfall
But no one could have guessed how one event would completely ruin her cinematic career. In the far end of 1980s, underworld started enjoying great leverage over the Hindi film industry. It was spearheaded by the “D Company”, run by the Kaskar brothers, Chhota Rajan and Chhota Shakeel.
They carried out all forms of illegal activities from real estate brokerage, drugs, match-fixing and extortion among others. Terrorist Dawood Ibrahim Kaskar was the kingpin of the D-gang.
A few months later, the rumours of Mandakini’s love affair with the dreaded terrorist Dawood were spreading like wildfire. It was claimed that Dawood loved her so much that he would threaten producers and directors to cast her in their films. However, a picture of the two during a cricket match dispelled any doubt about the veracity of those rumours.
On account of her affair with a dreaded terrorist and underworld don Dawood Ibrahim, she was shown the exit door from many movies.
After that, she stopped getting films and faced an unannounced boycott. It is said that she learned her lesson after that incident. Some reports claim that now she teaches Tibetan yoga at a Buddhist centre. However, her life story highlights the importance of maintaining integrity and upholding good actions, as engaging in illegal conduct will eventually lead to consequences.
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