06 March,2026 04:51 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
Mandana Karimi
Actress and former Bigg Boss contestant Mandana Karimi has revealed that she has decided to leave India, saying the choice comes after months of feeling unsupported while speaking about the situation in Iran. In a recent video shared on social media, the actress opened up about her circumstances and clarified that although she plans to move out of India, returning to her home country is not an option because she has been banned there for years.
Mandana explained that she has been barred from entering Iran for nearly a decade. Speaking candidly about her situation, she said, "I have been banned from Iran 10 years ago. I cannot go back to Iran." The actress added that her decision to leave India should not be misunderstood as a return to Iran. "Yes, I am leaving India; I am moving out of India, but I am not going back to Iran," she clarified.
The actress also spoke about the emotional toll the past few months have taken on her. According to Mandana, she has been vocal about the political situation in Iran and has consistently tried to raise awareness about the struggles faced by people there. However, she claimed that she did not receive the support she had hoped for while doing so.
Expressing her disappointment, Mandana said, "I am upset at India because for the past few months I didn't get any support in India." She added that she found it difficult to understand why conversations about Iran gained attention only after major global developments, even though many activists had been raising their voices for years.
Mandana further revealed that security concerns have forced her to live cautiously in recent months. She shared that she has been staying at one location for safety reasons and has even avoided sharing her whereabouts with friends. "Because of security reasons, I have been stuck at one place, and none of my even closest friends have my location," she explained.
Despite the difficulties, the actress emphasized that her activism is not about seeking personal attention but about raising awareness for her country. She noted that although she left Iran at a young age, it continues to remain an important part of her identity. "Even if I left Iran at 18, it is still my country and I will always have an opinion about it," she said.
Mandana also mentioned that she has not worked in films for several years, explaining that stepping away from acting was a personal choice. Instead, she has been using her social media platform to speak about Iran and encourage people to support those affected by the situation there.
While Mandana did not reveal where she plans to move next, she made it clear that her focus remains on continuing to raise awareness about issues affecting her homeland and supporting the voices of Iranians around the world.
