Actress Padmini Kolhapure had said that intially she was the first choice for the leading role in the movie Ram Teri Ganga Maili, but she declined the role after reading the script which needed some unpleasant scenes.
Anyhow the filmmaker Raj Kapoor wanted a new face instead of an established actress. He believed that he couldn't make someone pure Ganga if they had an established image.
Dimple Kapadia had been auditioned for the role of Ganga, Dimple looked great and acted perfectly for the audition, but Raj Kapoor was not sure, he thought that a newcomer was the right choice to project the innocence and honesty of a hill station girl.
So Raj searched for a newcomer with all characteristics that the character Ganga needed them. Finally the legendary filmmaker discovered Yasmeen Joseph and gave her a new name Mandakini.
For the first time when Mandakini met with Raj Kapoor she was in an Indian costume, that was chudidaar. Raj was very happy by seeing her in the Indian attire and he said, “if you would have come by wearing jeans or some other dress I wouldn't like it”. Because he wanted someone homely to the character.
Mandakini was born to a British father and Kashmiri mother.
Mandakiini made her debut in Ram Teri Ganga Maili at the age of 22 in 1985. She became an overnight star and became a sensational actress of 80s, but at the same time she faced controversies and unpleasant situations because of her some bold scenes in the film.
The film was a big blockbuster, the film was the year's highest grossing film and it was included in the ‘All Time Blockbuster’s list of Indian Cinema'.