Remember ‘Mona Lisa’ of Mahakumbh? Now deepfake AI videos of her are going viral

Moni Bhonsle, the young woman from Indore who became an internet sensation during this year’s Mahakumbh mela, is back in the news—but this time, it’s for something entirely different.

Bhonsle first gained attention while selling Rudraksha and pearl garlands amid the sprawling crowds of the religious gathering. Photographers captured her serene demeanor and striking appearance, and images of her quickly circulated on social media, earning her the nickname “Mona Lisa.”

Recently, a video purportedly showing Bhonsle dancing to a popular Bollywood song has gone viral online. Users across platforms shared the clip, with some commenting on her charm and appeal. “Money can change everything,” one user wrote while sharing the video.




However, several social media users were quick to point out that the video is a deepfake created using artificial intelligence. “This is the problem with people sharing everything they see online without verification. That is a deepfake video,” wrote another user on X.

This incident has again highlighted the growing concerns over the misuse of AI-generated content. Bhonsle had previously made headlines after her makeover videos went viral, attracting both admiration and criticism, with some accusing her of leveraging the Mahakumbh mela for personal gain.

The deepfake episode also echoes earlier cases involving AI misuse. In July this year, a mechanical engineer from Assam allegedly created an AI-generated adult persona, Babydoll Archi, using just a single image of his ex-girlfriend. The digital persona gained over 1.4 million Instagram followers before the engineer was arrested under cybercrime laws.

As Bhonsle finds herself unintentionally at the center of another viral controversy, the episode serves as a reminder of the ethical challenges posed by AI technologies and the ease with which digital content can be manipulated. Experts warn that while AI offers exciting possibilities, it also comes with risks, including the creation of misleading or harmful content.