New Delhi: Actress Mandakini has once again grabbed headlines after opening up about several controversies surrounding her debut film ‘Ram Teri Ganga Maili’ in a recent interview. Raj Kapoor’s 1985 film catapulted Mandakini to fame overnight. However, several scenes featuring the actress sparked controversy at the time. Nearly four decades later, Mandakini has spoken about how she viewed those scenes and what happened during their filming.
Mandakini revealed that she was only 16 years old when she started shooting for the film. She turned 17 by the time the shoot was completed. According to the actress, she did not understand many aspects of filmmaking the way she does today. She also said that her family supported her decision to work in the film.
‘I Did Not Find Anything Vulgar About The Scene’
One of the most talked-about moments in Ram Teri Ganga Maili featured Mandakini standing under a waterfall in a white, sheer sari. The scene became a major talking point after the film’s release. Mandakini has now said that she did not feel that the scene was vulgar or uncomfortable while shooting it.
According to Mandakini, Raj Kapoor explained the context and purpose of the scene to her. She described his working style as comfortable and respectful and recalled that he explained things to actors with patience and affection.
Mandakini also recalled that she came from a small town and was not accustomed to wearing such clothes. She said she felt somewhat uncomfortable during the shoot, so she doubled the fabric of the sari. Raj Kapoor accepted the change, and the team shot the scene accordingly.
Mandakini Also Talks About The Breastfeeding Scene
Another scene from the film that remained controversial for years showed Mandakini apparently breastfeeding a baby. She has now clarified what actually happened while filming the sequence.
Mandakini said the scene did not involve actual breastfeeding. According to her, the filmmakers created the visual effect through camera angles, clothing and the way she held the baby. The final shot gave viewers the impression that she was breastfeeding the child.
She also said that she performed the scene herself and that the filmmakers did not use a body double.
Mandakini explained that the scenes aimed to highlight the innocence and purity of her character, Ganga. She said the story showed attempts to corrupt Ganga, but the character’s inherent purity remained intact.
What Did Mandakini Say About Raj Kapoor?
Mandakini also recalled her experience of working with Raj Kapoor. She said the filmmaker maintained a warm and comfortable atmosphere on set, which helped actors understand his instructions without feeling intimidated.
She remembered that during her screen test, Raj Kapoor asked her about her family and younger siblings. At the time, she did not understand why he wanted to know about her relationship with children. Later, she realised that Kapoor wanted an actress who could bring a natural, homely and distinctly Indian quality to the character.
Mandakini Breaks Silence On Her Photo With Dawood Ibrahim
In the same interview, Mandakini also addressed the much-discussed photograph of her with underworld figure Dawood Ibrahim at a cricket stadium in Sharjah. The photograph led to speculation about her alleged links with the underworld and affected how people viewed her career.
Mandakini has denied that Dawood Ibrahim invited her to the cricket match. She said she had travelled to Dubai for a show and later went to watch the match. According to her, as an actress, she met many people during her professional travels and could not always know everything about every person she encountered.
She said she had no control over what the media subsequently wrote or reported about the photograph. Mandakini acknowledged that the controversy caused her significant problems and affected her film career.
She also said that she later realised the importance of being more careful about such situations, particularly while appearing in public with people whose backgrounds may attract controversy.
Ram Teri Ganga Maili gave Mandakini a major breakthrough early in her career, but her professional journey later went through several controversies and ups and downs. Her latest comments have once again brought the 1980s film and the controversies surrounding it back into the spotlight.
