Monalisa Bhonsle, the young woman who gained nationwide attention during the Prayagraj Kumbh Mela last year, has become the centre of a controversy after marrying a Muslim man in Kerala. Following the marriage, her father approached Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav, urging the state government to intervene and ensure that his daughter returns safely to Madhya Pradesh.
Monalisa Bhonsle, who is 18 years old and originally from Maheshwar town in Madhya Pradesh, belongs to the nomadic Pardhi community. She reportedly married Farman Khan on Wednesday at the Nainar Temple located in Arumanoor in the Poovar region of Kerala. The wedding ceremony was attended by a few local political leaders and ministers from the state, which further brought public attention to the event.
After returning from Kerala, Monalisa’s father, Jayasingh Bhonsle, publicly raised serious concerns about the marriage. He alleged that his daughter had been influenced and trapped in what he described as a case of “love jihad,” a term often used by certain right-wing groups to suggest that Muslim men deliberately enter into relationships with Hindu women in order to convert them to Islam after marriage.
Addressing reporters, Jayasingh Bhonsle claimed that his daughter had been misled by Farman Khan and appealed directly to the Madhya Pradesh government for assistance. He requested Chief Minister Mohan Yadav to take steps to bring Monalisa back to the state safely, stating that she had become well known across the country and that he feared she had been manipulated or deceived into the relationship.
He further explained that he had previously been aware that Monalisa was exploring opportunities in the film industry and had ambitions to build a career in cinema. According to him, she had mentioned that some individuals were helping her learn acting and dance and were providing training so that she could potentially work in films in the future. However, he said he had no idea that the situation would lead to her marriage in Kerala.
The issue also attracted the attention of members of the Hindu Jagran Manch, a right-wing organisation. Two of its functionaries, Sameer Mahule and Bhupendra Chauhan, stated that they would attempt to persuade Monalisa to reconsider her decision and return to her family.
Meanwhile, Monalisa Bhonsle firmly rejected the allegations made by her father and others. Speaking at a press conference held in Thiruvananthapuram, she clarified that the marriage had been entirely her own choice and that no one had forced or deceived her into the relationship.
Monalisa, who became widely known on social media after appearing at the Prayagraj Kumbh Mela and was popularly referred to online as the “Kumbh Mela girl,” appeared before journalists alongside her husband, Farman Khan. During the interaction, the couple strongly denied accusations of “love jihad” and dismissed claims that the marriage involved any form of religious conversion.
They explained that their relationship was based on mutual understanding and respect, and they emphasised that religion had never been a condition or obstacle in their decision to marry. According to them, both partners have retained their respective faiths even after the wedding.
Monalisa also clarified that the ceremony was conducted according to Hindu rituals at the temple, countering claims that the marriage involved religious pressure or conversion. In a candid remark during the press conference, she even stated that her husband had initially been hesitant about the marriage and that she herself had insisted strongly on going ahead with it.
She revealed that she is the eldest among four siblings in her family and said that her parents had earlier wanted her to marry her paternal aunt’s son, a proposal that she had opposed. According to Monalisa, her refusal to accept that arrangement led to disagreements within the family, and her father was particularly unhappy with her decision to choose her own partner.
The couple eventually married at the Nainar Temple in Thiruvananthapuram after approaching the Thampanoor police station for assistance. Police officials confirmed that Monalisa had sought protection from them prior to the wedding due to resistance from members of her family who opposed the marriage.
Authorities stated that they provided the necessary support to ensure that the marriage took place peacefully and without disruption. The police also confirmed that Monalisa had approached them voluntarily and that she had expressed concerns about potential pressure or interference from her family before the ceremony took place.
