New Delhi: Monalisa Bhosle, the girl whose pictures went viral after she was seen selling beads at the Mahakumbh Mela last year, got married to her Muslim boyfriend, Farman Khan, in Kerala. She has now given a statement to the media regarding the marriage, dismissing claims that her marriage was a case of ‘love jihad’.
‘Married according to Hindu customs’: Monalisa to media
Speaking to media persons post her marriage on Wednesday, Monalisa said, “I got married according to Hindu rituals. It is not ‘love jihad’. I respect all religions and consider every religion equal. ”
The woman, along with her husband, talked to the media in Kerala’s Thiruvananthapuram, after her marriage. She married a man named Farman Khan at a temple in Kerala, despite opposition from her family. She claimed that her father was forcing her to marry a cousin and she did not want that to happen. So she refused. This, she said, had caused animosity between her and her father.
VIDEO | Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala: “I got married according to Hindu rituals. It is not ‘love jihad’. I respect all religions and consider every religion equal,” says Viral Mahakumbh girl Monalisa.
(Full video available on https://t.co/n147TvrpG7) pic.twitter.com/LFNk6GzGMC
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Monalisha married her boyfriend at a temple. She claimed that her father was in Kerala, but he did not attend the wedding.
Her husband, Khan said that he hailed from Uttar Pradesh Baghpat district. He claimed that he respected all religions and would not force Monalisa to convert after their marriage. The two also showed documents, including Aadhar Card and a birth certificate of Monalisa, to prove that she was an adult. The woman claimed that her original name was Monalisa.
From selling garlands to becoming national sensation
Monalisa Bhosale shot to fame after a picture of hers was posted on social media by an influencer on Instagram. She was seen selling garlands at the Mahakumb Mela in 2025.
The woman was appreciated for her looks, and her amber-coloured eyes and simple attire drew the attention of many on the internet. She was seen selling garlands, beads and bangles at the Maha Kumbh in Prayagraj. After her image went viral, hundreds of people gathered within days around her, asking for selfies.
The woman was also offered movies. While she is currently shooting for a Malayalam film, Nagamma, directed by P Binu Varghese, in Kerala. She has also featured in Sanoj Mishra’s ‘The Diary of Manipur’, which will be released in April 2026.