Mumbai: Her hazel eyes sparkled as she waved, her smile bright enough to outshine Kerala’s tropical sun. “Namaste Kerala, ellarum sughamalle?” (Is everyone doing well?), she greeted the sea of adoring fans. The crowd in Chemmanur erupted into cheers.
Monalisa, also known as Mona Bhosle, had officially made her grand entrance into the media world, leaving no doubt that this was just the beginning of a career that would include more advertisements, serials, and the glitz of the glamour world. Monalisa, like so many internet sensations, followed the well-worn path of becoming an overnight star. Her rise mirrored the rapid ascent of Ranu Mondal, who sang her way into fame with a Lata Mangeshkar song at a railway station in Bengal. Once their faces go viral, the world can’t get enough — until, of course, the frenzy fades away.
The last time Kerala saw such a spectacle was with Sunny Leone, but Monalisa’s event, while smaller in crowd size, matched the fervor of a film star’s arrival. On February 14, Monalisa touched down in Kerala for a special event hosted by businessman Boby Chemmanur. The 16-year-old, who had once sold rudraksha garlands at the Mahakumbh Mela, was invited to inaugurate a showroom in Kozhikode. She arrived by plane, her first-ever flight, and a video of her aboard the aircraft quickly spread across social media, much to the delight of her followers.
Businessman Chemmanur had announced her arrival in an Instagram video, garnering over a million views. Monalisa’s enthusiastic reception was followed by a surprise: she greeted the audience in Malayalam, which sent the crowd into an ecstatic frenzy. “Namaste Kerala, ellarum sughamalle?” she asked, and they roared back in approval. Later, she shared the stage with Chemmanur and even danced briefly, captivating her fans with her infectious energy. But while Monalisa basked in the limelight, Chemmanur, the man who had brought her to Kerala, was embroiled in controversy.
Recently arrested on charges of making obscene remarks about Malayalam actress Honey Rose, Chemmanur’s past tainted his role in the event. Social media exploded, with some mocking him, while others appreciated his contribution to Monalisa’s rise. One user remarked, “One moment is enough to change your life.
Even actresses aren’t so glamorous.” Monalisa’s rapid rise to stardom began when her video at the Mahakumbh Mela went viral. Now, with her first big media event behind her, she’s already landed a role in The Diary of Manipur—proving that in today’s digital age, fame can come to anyone, anywhere, and without warning.
