Iran
‘India has betrayed me’: Iran-born actress Mandana Karimi, who works in Bollywood, vows to return to Tehran after Khamenei’s death
Mumbai/IBNS: Iran-born actress Mandana Karimi, who claimed her anti-Khamenei protests cost her work in India, has said she plans to move back to her home country following the reported killing of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in a US-Israel strike, according to media reports.
Speaking to Bollywood Hungama, Karimi claimed that her participation in protests and her outspoken stance on Iran cost her friendships in Bollywood.
“In these past two months, I have never felt so homesick and lonely in Bombay. I have a lot of friends here, but unfortunately, I went to protests, and I was talking about Iran so openly that I lost a lot of ‘so-called’ friends. I feel India has betrayed me in a way. India has given me what it was supposed to give, and now it's time to move on, and hopefully I am going to move to Iran,” she said.
In several interviews, she revealed that several of her projects and contracts were terminated after she became more politically active and vocal.
Since early 2026, she has reported a significant drop in work opportunities because of her public opinions.
Karimi has spoken candidly about a sense of loneliness and a "breakup" with the life she built in Mumbai. She noted that she lost many "so-called friends" after she began participating in protests and speaking openly about Iran.
She has used the word "betrayed" to describe her current relationship with India, feeling that the support she once had has vanished because of her activism.
Karimi, who built her career in Hindi films and Indian reality television, told Bollywood Hungama that she is ready to leave India and return to Iran.
She said a replacement had already been brought in within 24 hours of Khamenei’s death, which, according to her, signals that the existing regime “has to go.”
Karimi added that she would return to Iran the moment the Islamic regime falls and the country becomes “free,” especially for women.
“What I see for Iran is a free Iran where women can do whatever they want, wear whatever they want, whatever university they want to go and study. I see an Iran which has a great relationship with the Middle East — that we are not a threat to people. But we are a nation that builds the Middle East… The moment they announce that this regime is gone, I will go,” she said.
The 37-year-old actress rose to prominence after participating in Bigg Boss 9, hosted by Salman Khan.
Karimi has worked in TV commercials with the superstars like Shah Rukh Khan, Saif Ali Khan, Kareena Kapoor Khan.
Her first Bollywood film was Ranbir Kapoor starrer Roy where she made a guest appearance.
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