However, undeterred by the violent protest, which Shiv Sena called "very mild", the organisers, including the Observer Research Foundation, went ahead with the programme which was held amid tight security following threats of disruption by the pro-Hindutva party.
A group of Shiv Sainiks intercepted the car of Kulkarni, chairman of ORF, a foreign policy think tank, just outside his Matunga home this morning and painted his face black.
"This shows your resolve, our resolve and common resolve, the resolve of millions of Mumbaikars to defend the values of tolerance and diversity," Kulkarni said in his opening remarks at the event held in the evening at Nehru Centre in Mumbai.
"I am immensely proud of Marathi, Mumbai. Mumbai is Maharashtrian, but before that it is national and international city. It is tolerant, inclusive, liberal, democratic and multi-faith city," he said.
The blackening of Kulkarni's face drew unequivocal condemnation from political parties including BJP, but Shiv Sena defended the action.
BJP patriarch L K Advani, with whom Kulkarni has been closely associated, voiced concern over "growing intolerance" in the country towards any counter viewpoint.
"I strongly condemn whosoever has done it.... In the last few days, there are these signs...Where any person or any point of view is not acceptable, then you resort to violence or turn intolerant towards them.
"This is a matter of concern for the nation. Democracy must ensure tolerance for a different point of view," Advani said in Delhi.
"Smearing ink is a very mild form of democratic protest. We don't know if ink or tar was smeared. Nobody can foretell how public anger will explode.
"They are so upset about ink. Imagine when our soldiers are killed and their blood is spilled. It is not ink, it is the blood of our soldiers," Raut said as he accused Kasuri of having brought together all extremist anti-India organisations to "suit Pakistan's Kashmir agenda".