Mandakini is an Indian actor and spiritual guide. She came into the limelight with her debut Hindi film Ram Teri Ganga Maili (1985).She started her career as a model and worked in various photoshoots. An old photo of Mandakini from a photoshoot.She then worked as a model in many print advertisements. Mandakini in a print advertisement.In 1985, she signed the contract for the Hindi film Mazloom, but the film got delayed. The producer of the film wanted to change her name to Madhuri.She then made her Bollywood debut with Raj Kapoors film Ram Teri Ganga Maili (1985). The legendary Indian actor-director Raj Kapoor changed her name from Yasmeen/Yasmin to Mandakini. She gained immense fame with her debut film. She was also nominated by Filmfare in the Best Actress category. Ram Teri Ganga Maili (1985).She got rejected from the audition round of the Hindi films Betaab (1981) and Lava (1983).In 1986, the Indian musician Bappi Lahiri signed her to sing all the songs of his music album Dancing City. Earlier, the songs were recorded by the Indian singer Nazia, but after a fight between Bappi Lahiri and Nazia, Bappi replaced her with Mandakini. Dancing City music album.Mandakini has also worked in Telugu and Bengali films such as Bhargava Ramudu (Telugu; 1987) and Antarer Bhalobasha (Bengali; 1991). Bhargava Ramudu film poster.She then acted in various Hindi films including Aag Aur Shola (1986), Pyaar Karke Dekho (1987), Pyaar Mohabbat (1988), Hisaab Khoon Ka (1989), and Taqdeer Ka Tamasha (1990). Hisaab Khoon Ka (1989).In 1990, Mandakini, along with her secretary Ajit Dewan and actor Aditya Pancholi, started a film production house A.M.A Productions (name derived from their initials). Later, after a tiff between the partners, Mandakini left the production house.