Why did Iranian actress Mandana Karimi, who supported Reza Pahlavi in India, have to leave the country?

 

Why did Iranian actress Mandana Karimi, who supported Reza Pahlavi in ​​India, have to leave the country?

 

Iranian-born model and actress Mandana Karimi has sparked a new debate in showbiz circles and social media by announcing her departure from the country after spending almost 16 years in India.

She was already in the news for her outspoken opinions and outspokenness on the current situation in Iran, but her departure from India has also been the subject of discussion in recent days. She supports former Iranian Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi in ​​her posts on social media.

37-year-old Mandana Karimi revealed in response to a fan’s question during the ‘Ask Me Anything’ on her Instagram account that she has left Mumbai but did not answer where she went.

Sharing a video from the airport, she said in a very emotional manner that she cannot believe that she is saying goodbye to India. According to her, after living in India for almost 16 years, it is time for her to leave her ‘second home’ and start a new life.

Some media reports have claimed that Mandana Karimi left India due to security concerns and feelings of insecurity.

We have contacted Mandana Karimi to find out the reason for her leaving India.

Who is Mandana Karimi?

Born on May 19, 1988 in Tehran, the capital of Iran, Mandana Karimi's real name is Maniza Karimi. According to media reports, her father is of Indo-Iranian descent, while her mother is completely Iranian.

She rose to fame from the 2015 reality show Bigg Boss Season 9, where she was the second runner-up.

After that, she started getting film offers and she was first seen in a small role in the film 'Rai'.

She was seen modeling with Bollywood actress Shah Rukh Khan, Saif Ali Khan, Kareena Kapoor and Shahid Kapoor.

Her first major film was 'Bhaag Jaani' and then she appeared in 'Kya Kool Hain Hum 3', but later she also accused the film's directors Umesh Ghadge and Sajid Khan of sexual harassment.

She married an Indian businessman but separated after four years in 2021.

‘I faced misunderstandings because I was an Iranian woman’

In an interview with the BBC, Mandana Karimi spoke openly about her journey in India and said that she first came to India on a modeling assignment and then stayed there as an Indian.

She said, ‘I came to India as a model, not as an actress. At that time, I had a short-term modeling contract and I was supposed to stay for about three months. To be honest, I didn’t know much about Bollywood before coming to India.’

‘But when I reached India, I felt a deep connection to the place. As someone who had left Iran and had spent time in different parts of Asia, India really felt like home. There was a strange familiarity and acceptance here. I felt like I had been here before.’

She said, ‘The modeling journey gradually turned into acting. Films, television and later reality shows also became a part of my life over time.

She said, “Bollywood is an exciting but very difficult and competitive world, especially for someone from outside. There is glamour here but with it comes pressure, constant criticism and the need to present yourself in a new way again and again.”

Talking about her experience in the famous Indian reality show ‘Bigg Boss’, she said, “It changed my public identity to a great extent because through this show people saw me in a more personal and spontaneous way. In reality TV, people start to emotionally connect with your life, thoughts and weaknesses.”

In an interview with BCC, Mandana said, “India gave me love, acceptance and a successful career. I received immense sincerity and kindness from the general public but being an Iranian woman, I also faced some outdated concepts and misconceptions. "Sometimes people saw me as a foreigner, sometimes I was considered inferior, and sometimes my identity was politicized, without understanding the reality of what the Iranian people are going through."

She added that as someone who has lived in both societies, I believe that art, cinema, culture, and humanitarianism can build bridges that governments often cannot.

After announcing her departure from India on social media, there were mixed reactions from her fans and subscribers. Many people appreciated her decision and wished her well for a new beginning, while some expressed regret over her emotional statement.

According to a report by India TV, the main reason for leaving India is security concerns and a sense of insecurity.

According to revelations made on social media, she also received death threats, in which her old addresses and photos were even shared. In such situations, she felt unsafe and decided that it was no longer possible for her to live in India.

According to a report by Bollywood Hungama, regarding her professional life, Mandana said that she has been away from Bollywood for the past several years. She consciously moved away from acting and started working in the field of design, styling and art, however, she considers herself an artist and is ready to work in various creative fields in the future.

According to her, she is focusing on humanitarian projects. They are particularly involved in fundraising campaigns and live sessions to highlight the issues of Iranians in Iran and abroad.