The recently concluded Mahakumbh was a stunning success. It was one of the largest congregations of human beings at one place. They gathered in the holy city of Prayagraj in Uttar Pradesh, at the confluence of three rivers—Ganga, Yamuna, and Saraswati—to bathe in their sacred waters. It is believed that bathing in these rivers brings spiritual cleansing and liberation from the cycle of birth and death. The number of people who descended on Prayagraj was mind-boggling.
Arrangements were spectacular, and the footfall transformed the economy of the place—worthy of a case study in B-schools.
The Mahakumbh also became the backdrop for a viral phenomenon that demonstrated how social media has the power to transform lives and catapult a person to fame and fortune. Social media went gaga over a young garland seller from Indore named Monalisa Bhosle. Millions were captivated by her good looks and serene demeanour. This 16-year-old has unwittingly become an internet sensation overnight and is one of the most talked-about side stories of the event. Monalisa’s popularity began when a video of her confidently interacting with visitors at the Mahakumbh went viral, garnering over 15 million views. Her radiant smile, childlike innocence, and calm response to her newfound fame have only increased her popularity.
While Monalisa has taken social media by storm, there were two other personalities who were also talked about during the Mahakumbh. One was Baba Abhay Singh, famously known as IIT Baba. He left a successful career as an aerospace engineer after graduating from IIT Mumbai to embrace sanyas (asceticism). Another personality is Harsha Richharia, whose spiritual journey has drawn attention and earned her the nickname “Viral Sadhvi.”
But it is Monalisa’s rise to fame that truly defies understanding. This 16-year-old rudraksh seller has gained unbelievable viral fame. Her sudden popularity has led to constant requests for selfies and overwhelming social media attention, prompting her family to flee the mela for her safety.
Filmmaker Sanoj Mishra, who has directed films like The Diary of West Bengal, has offered Monalisa a role in his upcoming film The Diary of Manipur. Mishra personally visited Monalisa’s family in Maheshwar, in Madhya Pradesh’s Khargone district, to offer her the role and discuss the film. Monalisa is expected to spend three months in Mumbai training before filming begins, with Mishra taking responsibility for shaping her future in the film industry.
She also took her first flight—ever—to Kozhikode, Kerala, after being invited to an event by businessman Bobby Chemmanur of Chemmanur Jewellers.
Monalisa Bhosle’s story brings to mind George Bernard Shaw’s play Pygmalion. The play became widely known through the 1938 motion picture and later the stage musical My Fair Lady. A 1964 film version featured Rex Harrison and Audrey Hepburn.
Pygmalion derives its name from the tale in Ovid’s Metamorphoses, where the sculptor Pygmalion creates a beautiful statue and falls in love with it. The statue, Galatea, is brought to life by the goddess Venus in response to his prayers.
Psychologists Robert Rosenthal and Lenore Jacobson even coined the term “The Pygmalion Effect,” based on the same metaphor. According to their study, high expectations lead to better performance and low expectations to poorer performance—both becoming self-fulfilling prophecies.
We hope the stardom that Monalisa has stumbled upon will catapult her to great heights. We wish her well!
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🌟Monalisa Bhosle, a 16-year-old garland seller, became a viral sensation at the Mahakumbh. 🎥Filmmaker Sanoj Mishra offered her a role in *The Diary of Manipur*. ✈️She also flew to Kerala for an event. 💫#TheIndianSun😊https://t.co/FdSxjNNBYe
— The Indian Sun (@The_Indian_Sun) March 22, 2025
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