मंदाकिनी ने ANI में बताई शारजाह तस्वीर की सच्चाई और करियर पर प्रभाव

ANI interview clarifies Dawood Ibrahim invitation

On 16 September 2026 Mandakini gave an interview to ANI in which she stated that Dawood Ibrahim did not invite her to the Sharjah cricket match. She explained that she had travelled to Dubai for a professional show and, after the event, decided to watch the match that was already in progress. While at the stadium she happened to be photographed with Dawood Ibrahim, who was also present among the crowd. She emphasized that as an artist she meets many people and has no control over what others say or write about those encounters [[1]].

Details of the Sharjah photo incident

Mandakini further clarified that she had not gone to Dubai specifically to see the match; the match was taking place while she was there for her show. She noted that many individuals were seated in the stadium and Dawood Ibrahim was simply one of them. She said she had no idea at the time that the photograph would later become a subject of widespread speculation [[3]]. The photograph, taken sometime in the 1980‑90s, resurfaced years later and led to rumors about a personal relationship between her and the underworld figure.

Impact on her film career

The actress said that the ensuing gossip and allegations caused significant damage to her film career. She stated that the controversy led to considerable loss and that she later realized a dedicated team would have been necessary to manage such situations. She added that she repeatedly denied the rumors wherever they surfaced [[2]]. Mandakini also mentioned that after the 1993 Mumbai blasts police questioned her but eventually gave her a clean chit, a fact reported by Aaj Tak [[2]].

Current life and work

According to the Daily Bhaskar, Mandakini now lives in Mumbai with her husband, Dr. Kagyur T. Rinpoche Thakur, and runs a Tibetan herbal wellness centre where she teaches yoga. She has moved away from film work and focuses on holistic health practices [[1]].