THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Mahakumbh Mela girl Monalisa Bhosle, who became a celebrity after her videos had gone viral, got married to the man she was in a relationship with for nearly six months at a temple in Poovar in the city on Wednesday.Monalisa, hailing from Indore, reached Thampanoor police station in the morning, seeking protection to marry Farman Khan, an actor who hails from Maharashtra. She told police that they approached them because her family was opposed to their relationship.Also see: Photos: Mahakumbh viral star Monalisa Bhosle chooses Kerala for wedding with actor Farman KhanThe couple later reached the wedding venue at Arumanoor temple in Poovar under police protection. The wedding was held in Kerala style, with the groom wearing a shirt and white dhoti, while Monalisa wore a red saree.

The duo had earlier arranged the wedding at the temple before approaching police and seeking protection. The police intervened and reminded her father that, as an adult, she had the right to choose her partner.The two had been shooting for a movie at Poovar. The couple decided to get married as they felt a conducive atmosphere in Kerala, unlike in northern states. Monalisa’s father had accompanied her for the shoot. He had opposed the marriage, forcing the couple to reach out to police.Speaking to reporters, Farman said they decided to get married in Kerala because everyone could live in harmony and there were no divisive thoughts. He added that they planned to settle in Kerala and the people in the state were supportive.General education minister V Sivankutty, who attended the marriage ceremony, said, “This is the real Kerala story where people can live freely.”Besides Sivankutty, CPM state secretary M V Govindan, other politicians and fans took part in the wedding.Monalisa had become famous after her videos and photos of her selling garlands and bangles at Kumbh Mela in Prayagraj went viral. She soon appeared on television and received film offers.

Mumbai: The situation for restaurant owners is getting tougher by the day with the majority—around 60%—all set to pull down shutters till their daily commercial LPG supply is restored. The others will remain operational but with their menu curtailed and a majority of items unavailable.Sandeep Sharma of Pancham Puriwala at Borabazar opposite the CST terminus said they have already scaled their menu down by 70% and curtailed the timings. He said the hotel plans to get an induction stove to continue to serve customers on a limited basis.Krishna Purohit of ShreeThaker Bhojanalay in Kalbadevi said the hotel has already stopped serving dishes such as halwa, daal baati, undhiyu and puris as they consumed a large proportion of gas. “Our situation is like every other restaurant in the city,” he added. However, Nissar Sardar of Sardaar Pav Bhaaji in Tardeo said since their hotel still had coal supply and coal-based chulhas, they have faced no issues so far.Kaustubh Tambe of the popular Aaram Vadapav at CST carried around 50 kg of potatoes home on Wednesday night to get them boiled and will take another 100 kg today night to get them ready for Friday morning. “Today we could not serve upavas misal, pulav, upma, poha, khichadi but we will try serve all our items tomorrow with the help of an induction stove in the absence of cylinders. We plan to ensure that we at least serve fried items such as batata vada, sabudana vada, bhaji, thalipeeth, etc without disruption. We are trying everything to keep the show going,” he said.Vijay Shetty, president of the Indian Hotel and Restaurant Association (AHAR), an apex body of over 15,000 restaurant owners across the Mumbai Metropolitan Region, said several hotel members including him have been unable to get coal and kerosene stocks to feed their chulhas amidst the crisis. “A large number of Mumbaikars who are dependent on restaurant food due to their busy schedules are getting deprived of their breakfasts and dinners,” he added.Congress legislature party leader Vijay Wadettiwar has alleged in the assembly that domestic cylinder prices have risen by Rs 60 since the crisis began and refills now take 25 days instead of 15. About 30% of hotels in cities like Mumbai and Nagpur have shut due to supply disruptions, he added. Wadettiwar warned of black-marketing risks, citing a Rs 18-lakh cylinder truck theft, and demanded the govt clarify stock levels and restore supply.

As fighting between Iran and the United States continues to intensify, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has indicated that Tehran may be willing to return to negotiations, but only under strict conditions.Pezeshkian spoke with leaders from Russia and Pakistan over the past two days, signalling that diplomatic channels could reopen despite the ongoing war. According to Iranian officials, Tehran would consider renewed talks with Washington only if three key demands are met: recognition of Iran’s sovereign rights, reparations for damage caused during the conflict, and firm guarantees that future military aggression will not occur.

Iranian leaders have repeatedly said they are waiting for a response from the other side but remain deeply sceptical about Washington’s intentions. Officials in Tehran say years of confrontation and the current war have eroded trust in negotiations with the United States.

The comments come as the conflict between Iran, Israel and their allies continues to expand across the region, raising fears of a prolonged war with significant economic and humanitarian consequences.Violence has spread across the Gulf and the eastern Mediterranean in recent days. A container ship near the United Arab Emirates was struck by a projectile, sparking a small fire, though the crew were reported safe. In the vital Strait of Hormuz, three crew members remained trapped aboard a Thai bulk carrier that was hit while transiting the waterway, highlighting growing risks to global shipping routes.Regional tensions escalated further after authorities in Bahrain reported attacks on fuel tanks in Muharraq Governorate and urged residents to remain indoors as emergency crews battled fires. Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia said its air defences intercepted multiple drones targeting strategic areas, including one heading towards the Shaybah oil field. Kuwait also reported intercepting several drones.Israel said a fresh wave of Iranian missiles was launched toward its territory, prompting the deployment of air defence systems. In response, Israeli forces carried out what they described as “wide-scale” strikes in Tehran and against Hezbollah positions in Beirut. Lebanese authorities reported multiple casualties from Israeli strikes, including attacks on areas where displaced families had been sheltering.The fighting has also disrupted global energy markets. Attacks on shipping near the Strait of Hormuz — one of the world’s most important oil transit routes — have pushed the price of Brent crude above $100 a barrel, raising concerns that the war could trigger wider economic instability.Meanwhile, Donald Trump insisted that US strikes had already severely weakened Iran, telling supporters that the country was “pretty much at the end of the line”.

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Monalisa Bhonsle, the 18-year-old Mahakumbh Mela sensation from Indore who rose to fame last year after videos of her selling rudraksh garlands went viral, tied the knot with actor Farman Khan at the Arumanoor temple in Poovar, Kerala, on Wednesday under police protection. The couple, who had been in a relationship for six months, said they chose Kerala for its supportive and harmonious environment.The wedding, held in traditional Kerala style, saw Monalisa in a red saree and the groom in a white dhoti and shirt. Kerala General Education Minister V Sivankutty, CPI(M) state secretary M V Govindan, Rajya Sabha MP A A Rahim, and other prominent leaders attended the ceremony.

Monalisa addressed circulating reports that she was underage, calling them “fake and incorrect.” She stated, “I am 18 years old. I got married according to Hindu rituals. It is not ‘love jihad.’ I respect all religions and consider every religion equal.” Her husband confirmed that their marriage was registered, which would not have been possible if she were underage.The couple had approached the Thampanoor police station earlier on Wednesday, seeking protection after Monalisa’s father reportedly tried to take her back to her hometown in Madhya Pradesh against her will. Police reminded her father that as an adult, she had the right to choose her partner. Monalisa’s father, Jaisingh Bhonsle, alleged that she had been persuaded to come to Kerala under the pretext of acting opportunities. Her uncle also expressed concern, claiming the family was uneducated and worried she may have been influenced through “black magic.”Monalisa and Farman said their relationship began six months ago during a film shoot in Poovar. They had completed shooting for one film and were preparing for another. They expressed their desire to settle in Kerala, where they found an atmosphere free from divisive sentiments.Speaking to reporters, Farman said, “We planned to get married here because everyone lives in harmony and supports each other.” Minister Sivankutty echoed the sentiment, calling it “the real Kerala story where people can live freely.”The couple’s decision to marry in Kerala, despite family opposition, highlights both Monalisa’s rise from viral fame to cinema opportunities and her determination to make independent choices about her personal life.(With agency inputs)