Mahakumbh Mela sensation Monalisa Bhosle ties knot with boyfriend at Kerala temple in interfaith wedding

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The couple eventually tied the knot at the Sri Nainar Deva Temple in Arumanoor, Thiruvananthapuram, on Wednesday, March 11. Prominent figures from political and social spheres attended the wedding ceremony. For the unfamiliar, the Sri Nainar Deva Temple in Arumanoor was one of the shrines reconsecrated by 20th-century social reformer and philosopher Sree Narayana Guru.

Monalisa and Farman Khan met through Facebook a year and a half ago, and what initially started as a friendship eventually blossomed into love. However, as they belong to different religious communities, their families strongly opposed their relationship and union. Her father, Jai Singh Bhosle, reportedly even pressured Monalisa to marry a man of his choice. Determined to be together, the couple arrived in Kerala seeking protection for their relationship.

Kerala Education Minister V Sivankutty, CPI-M state secretary MV Govindan, and Rajya Sabha MP AA Rahim greet newlyweds Monalisa Bhosle and Farman Khan. (Credit: Special Arrangement)

Meanwhile, as Monalisa was shooting for her debut Malayalam film, Nagamma, in Poovar recently, her father reportedly tracked her down and attempted to forcibly take her back to their hometown. This prompted Monalisa and Farman to seek refuge at the Thampanoor police station in Kerala’s capital city.

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‘The real Kerala story’

The police then summoned Monalisa’s father to the station and informed him that she has the legal right to live with the person of her choice as an adult. Thampanoor Station House Officer (SHO) Jijukumar told The Indian Express, “She (Monalisa) said her family wanted to marry her off to a distant relative. She was against that. The crew of the film she is working on also came to the station with her. As she is 18, we allowed her to go with Farman. Her father, who also came to the police station, was sent back.”

Once she was granted permission to leave with her partner, the way was cleared for their wedding. Thus, the Arumanoor temple opened its doors to conduct their interfaith marriage in the presence of a large crowd, including Kerala Education Minister V Sivankutty, Rajya Sabha MP AA Rahim, and CPI-M state secretary MV Govindan. While the bride wore a bright red saree, Farman arrived for the occasion in a white shirt and mundu (dhoti). Her film’s crew made the arrangements for the ceremony.

Speaking on the occasion, Rahim said, “This is the real Kerala story. The couple has realised that they are safe only in Kerala, where all their constitutional rights will be protected. As adults, they are free to live together. Monalisa was afraid to go back to her home state. Kerala is safe for the couple.”