Mahakumbh Girl Monalisa denies 'LOVE JIHAD' claims amid backlash, says, 'Didn’t want to marry my cousin…'

Viral Mahakumbh girl Monalisa is back in the spotlight, trending on social media after marrying her Muslim boyfriend, Farman Khan, in a Kerala temple ceremony. The couple, who met on Facebook, faced family opposition, especially from Monalisa's father, who wanted her to marry a relative. Seeking police protection, they got married at the Sri Nainar Deva Temple in Thiruvananthapuram, with Kerala leaders like V Sivankutty and MV Govindan attending to show support.

Monalisa addresses the backlash

Speaking to the media in Thiruvananthapuram, Monalisa Bhosle said she decided to marry Farman Khan on her own, and she had to push him into it as he was hesitant.

Addressing the backlash on social media, she said, I got married according to Hindu rituals. Apparently, her husband Farman Khan wasn't too keen on marrying her initially, but she won him over.

My parents wanted to get me married to my aunt’s son, and I did not want to marry him as he is like a brother to me, she said.

I got married according to Hindu rituals. It is not ‘love jihad’. I respect all religions and consider every religion equal, she said.

Monalisa & Farman’s wedding

Monalisa and Farman Khan married on March 11 at Kerala's Arumanoor Sri Nainaar Deva Temple. Originally from Indore and Maharashtra, they met on Facebook 6 months ago and developed a relationship. The couple faced family opposition, leading to their temple wedding with police protection.

Monalisa Bhosle, who shot to fame at the 2025 Maha Kumbh Mela, has married Farman Khan, an actor-model from Maharashtra. Interestingly, Farman revealed that Monalisa proposed to him first, and he initially rejected her, but later agreed to date her. They actually met on Facebook, and their bond grew from there.

Monalisa’s workfront

Monalisa's all set to dazzle in Malayalam cinema with P. Binu Varghese's 'Nagamma', teaming up with Kailash. She's also making her Bollywood debut in Sanoj Mishra's 'The Diary of Manipur', playing the daughter of a retired army soldier. Beyond films, she's connecting with fans on Instagram, collaborating with various brands.