'Mona Lisa' at Mahakumbh harassed, chased by men after viral fame, sent home by family

The woman who drew comparisons to the Mona Lisa had to return home, reportedly after her viral fame led to her getting harassed at Mahakumbh.

Updated on: Jan 23, 2025, 09:49:09 IST

By Trisha Sengupta

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Monalisa Bhonsle, a garland seller from Indore who gained immense attention during Mahakumbh 2025, is in the headlines again, and for a concerning reason. A video on the internet shows her being harassed by men after she became an overnight sensation.

Monalisa Bhosle from Indore drew people’s attention with her “amber eyes and dusky skin”. (Instagram/@monalisa.bhosle)

“Scary footage”

A video shows her dressed in a red salwar, trying to escape the crowd approaching her. One of her family members pulls her away, while a few others try to keep her safe in the sea of men trying to get closer to her or take her picture. The video ends with her sitting down and covering her face with a dupatta.

Also Read: ‘Amber eyes, dusky skin’: Garland seller at Mahakumbh is stealing hearts for her beauty

According to the Free Press Journal (FPJ), her increasing fame decreased sales in her business. Reportedly, she was sent home by her father for this reason.

"People were after Monalisa all the time. It became difficult for her to focus on selling garlands. Our father decided it was best for us to go home for now," Bhonsle's younger sister Vidya told Republic World.

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A post shared by Monalisa Bhosle (@monalisa.bhosle)

Videos are regularly being shared on the Instagram page dedicated to Bhonsle. There are several pieces of footage, from selling garlands to giving interviews to celebrating her birthday with her family. One such clip also shows her complaining that people are spreading rumours that she had earned crores after going viral when the reality is just the opposite. In another footage, she highlighted that and joked that she would only take pictures with those who buy her products.

Also Read: IITian Baba at Mahakumbh: He studied aerospace engineering at IIT Bombay, then turned to spirituality

Bhonsle first found online fame when an influencer visiting Mahakumbh 2025 recorded her video and shared it on social media. Her breathtaking beauty soon captivated people.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Trisha Sengupta
Trisha Sengupta works as Chief Content Producer at Hindustan Times with over six years of experience in the digital newsroom. Known for her ability to decode the internet’s most talked-about moments, she specialises in high-engagement storytelling that bridges the gap between viral trends and traditional journalism. Throughout her tenure, Trisha has focused on the intersection of technology, finance, and human emotion. She frequently covers personal finance and real estate struggles in hubs like Gurgaon, Bengaluru, and Hyderabad, while also documenting the unique challenges of the NRI experience. Her work often highlights the movements and philosophies of global newsmakers and personalities like Elon Musk, Mukesh Ambani, Nikhil Kamath, Dubai crown prince, and MrBeast. From reporting on Amazon or Meta layoffs and startup culture to the emergence of AI-driven platforms like Grok and xAI, she provides a grounded and empathetic perspective on the stories shaping our world. When not decoding the internet, Trisha is likely offline: lost in a book, exploring a historical ruin, or navigating the world as a solo traveler. She balances her fast-paced career with family time and a healthy dose of curiosity, currently trading her "human" sources for silicon ones as she masters AI to future-proof her storytelling.Read More

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