Monalisa, the girl who became an internet sensation after her pics from the ongoing Maha Kumbh Mela went viral, says that she always had “Bollywood dreams”. Having signed Sanoj Mishra’s The Diary of Manipur opposite actor Rajkummar Rao’s brother Amit Rao, she is still reeling from the widespread attention and love.

Speaking to HT City, the 16-year-old says, “Sach bole to mere dimag mein tha ki main kab heroine banungi? Mujhe hamesha se bahut shauk raha hai acting ka, dance ka.”

Ask the Indore-based girl who her favourite actors are, and she innocently responds, “Mujhe to maa-baap hi pasand hai!” before adding, “Mujhe Sonakshi Sinha pasand hai aur hero mein Salman Khan! Unhone Dabangg 3 (2019) nikali thi humare Maheshwar (Madhya Pradesh) mein.”

Though this attention has helped her land her first movie role, the fame came with some trouble for Monalisa. Recalling how people would flock to click selfies and make Reels with her, she says, “Bahut saare logon ne pareshaan kiya. Kisi ne meri (Instagram) ID bhi hack kar li. Kaha ki usko grow karengey aur mera password le gaye. Ab ussey koi aur chala raha hai. Bahut sari ID ban gayi mere naam ki, sab galat hain.”

As she embarks on this new chapter in her life, Monalisa shares, “Padhai-likhai nahin ki, bas sign kar lete hain. (Sanoj) sir ki film sign kar li hai... Mala-rudraksh (that she was selling at Maha Kumbh) wahin chorh kar aa gayi main, bahut nuksaan ho gaya.”