Friday, September 18, 2026
News

Mandakini denies Dawood Ibrahim invited her to Sharjah cricket match, says photo controversy did a lot of damage

SocialTwist Tell-a-Friend    Print this Page   COMMENT

Mumbai (Maharashtra) | September 16, 2026 1:29:30 PM IST
Veteran actress Mandakini has opened up about the controversial photograph of her with underworld don Dawood Ibrahim that surfaced years ago, clarifying that she was not invited by him and that she had travelled to Dubai for a show before attending a cricket match where the photograph was taken.

Speaking to ANI in an exclusive interview, Mandakini said she had no control over the speculation and reports that followed the photograph, adding that as an artist, she interacted with several people and did not distinguish between them.

Jo bhi log likhna chahe, jo bhi bolna chahe, we dont have control over it. Ek artist ko hazaron log milte hain aur hum sabke liye barabar hai. Bahut saare log saath mein thekiske liye choose karein, kiske liye choose na karein Hum waha kisi show ke liye gaye the. No, I was not invited by Dawood. (Whatever people want to write or say, we dont have control over it. An artist has to meet many people, and we are equal to everyone. There were so many people with us; whom do we choose, and whom do we not? I was in Dubai for a show and then went for the match. I was not invited by Dawood. I didnt realise it at the moment), she said.

The photograph later became the subject of controversy and widespread speculation, which Mandakini said had a significant impact on her film career.

The controversy did a lot of damage. Later, I came to know that one should have a team to take care of all these things. I denied the rumours everywhere, she added.

rose to fame with her debut film Ram Teri Ganga Maili, in which she played the lead role and became one of the prominent faces of Hindi cinema in the 1980s. The film, directed by Raj Kapoor, went on to become a major success and established Mandakini as a leading actress of her era.

Following the success of the film, Mandakini continued to work in Hindi cinema and appeared in more than 75 films during her career. She also shared the screen with several leading actors, including Anil Kapoor, Mithun Chakraborty, Govinda, among others. (ANI)

 
  LATEST COMMENTS ()
POST YOUR COMMENT
Comments Not Available
 
POST YOUR COMMENT
 
 
TRENDING TOPICS
 
 
CITY NEWS
MORE CITIES
 
 
 
MORE ENTERTAINMENT NEWS
Sudarsan Pattnaik creates 25-foot sand a...
Phoolan Devi's autobiography 'Phoolan' w...
All this was possible because of Kannad...
PM Modi 76th birthday: Artist Manas Kuma...
Mumbai: Israel Consul General visits Lal...
Rashmika Mandanna to portray legendary C...
More...
 
INDIA WORLD ASIA
MPs Tarun Chugh, Sambit Patra extend bir...
AIIMS Delhi transfers AI-based mammograp...
CM Yogi extends birthday wishes to PM Mo...
New Delhi: Union Minister Nirmala Sithar...
Congress' Gaurav Gogoi flags 'UPI tax' ...
Annapurna Divas: PM Modi lauds West Beng...
More...    
 
 Top Stories
Abhishek’s record ton helps India b... 
Trump plans to sign Russia sanction... 
Allegation about external pressure ... 
Making CCTV mandatory at every medi... 
"You only did politics, we worked t... 
Mukesh Ambani offers prayers at Lal... 
DJB STP Tender scam case: Court res... 
John Leguizamo to be seen as villai...