Maha Kumbh's viral Mona Lisa to make acting debut in 'The Diary Of Manipur'

Monalisa Bhosle, a young Indore woman who became an internet sensation after being photographed selling garlands at the Maha Kumbh Mela 2025 in Prayagraj, is about to enter the film industry. She has been offered a role in filmmaker Sanoj Mishra's next film The Diary of Manipur.

Monalisa won the hearts of many with her innocent charm and stunning beauty while selling garlands at the Maha Kumbh Mela 2025. Her rise to prominence attracted the interest of director Sanoj Mishra, who is known for his work on films that tackle socially relevant issues.

Mishra, who previously helmed 'The Diary of West Bengal,' offered Monalisa a role in his next project, Free Press Journal reported.

According to reports, the filmmaker talked with Monalisa's father over the phone and signed the contract in Maheshwar on Wednesday. Monalisa's part in The Diary of Manipur closely resembles her real-life challenges.

According to ETV Bharat, Sanoj Mishra explained, "Monalisa belongs to a lower middle-class family. She is a nomad, and her family roams around selling garlands to fulfill their daily needs. Her role is that of the daughter of a retired army soldier from Manipur who too wants to join the army. This is her dream. What kind of problems she has to go through to fulfill her dream, what struggles she has to face and how she is able to fulfill her dream, is what the film is all about.”

Mishra and his team will give her some basic acting teaching to help her prepare for the role. He stated, "I will call her to my studio. Our motive is to ensure her acting should be in sync with her original nature (her carefreeness and innocence).”

According to other media sources, the budget for The Diary of Manipur is over Rs 20 crore, with filming set to begin in February. When asked about his decision to cast Monalisa, Mishra underlined that film success is based on acting ability as well as beauty.

He remarked, "If you want to stay in the film industry and leave your mark, then you will have to be proficient in acting. The qualities of an artist can be inculcated in Monalisa, she can be taught. We have seen in her that she has the desire to achieve something.”

The filmmaker also addressed prevailing industry perceptions, saying, "If a porn star like Sunny Leone can be brought into the film industry and made an icon and if I bring a girl from a nomadic community in front of the country, then it will send out a message that not everything is about nudity and filth. You can also present yourself in the film industry with great decency and simplicity.”

When discussing the industry's nepotism issue, Mishra pointed out that audiences frequently reject films based solely on star power. He reiterated his desire of offering opportunities for new faces, saying, "My films do not have star cast like Salman-Shahrukh, the story of my film is the star cast.”