diff --git a/src/praisonai/praisonai/_entrypoint.py b/src/praisonai/praisonai/_entrypoint.py
index 1d4581e122..79c1aad764 100644
--- a/src/praisonai/praisonai/_entrypoint.py
+++ b/src/praisonai/praisonai/_entrypoint.py
@@ -42,16 +42,67 @@ def _resolve_run_inputs(framework: str | None) -> tuple[Any, list[dict[str, Any]
     return adapter, _build_config_list()
 
 
+# Loose kwargs whose CLI dest differs from the intuitive Python name. Mapping
+# them keeps the documented option effective instead of silently dropping it
+# into ``cli_config`` under a key no downstream consumer reads.
+_CLI_KWARG_ALIASES = {"session": "resume_session"}
+
+
+def _apply_model_override(config_list: list[dict[str, Any]], extra: dict) -> None:
+    """Honour a loose ``model=``/``llm=`` kwarg by writing it onto the resolved
+    ``config_list`` the generator reads model selection from.
+
+    Mirrors the CLI's ``--llm`` behaviour (see ``direct_prompt`` /
+    ``agents_generator``: model is taken from ``config_list[0]['model']``), so a
+    Python caller's ``model=`` is actually applied instead of being ignored.
+    Mutates ``extra`` in place, popping the consumed key so it is not also
+    forwarded through ``cli_config``.
+    """
+    model = extra.pop("model", None)
+    if model is None:
+        model = extra.pop("llm", None)
+    if model and config_list:
+        config_list[0]["model"] = model
+
+
+def _merge_cli_config(cli_config: dict | None, extra: dict) -> dict | None:
+    """Merge loose ``run()``/``arun()`` kwargs into the ``cli_config`` escape
+    hatch the CLI already forwards to ``AgentsGenerator``.
+
+    This gives Python callers the same pass-through the CLI uses for advanced
+    options without inventing a parallel option surface. Loose names whose CLI
+    dest differs (e.g. ``session`` -> ``resume_session``) are normalised so they
+    reach the consumer that reads them. Explicit ``cli_config`` keys win over
+    loose kwargs.
+    """
+    if not extra:
+        return cli_config
+    merged = dict(cli_config or {})
+    for key, value in extra.items():
+        merged.setdefault(_CLI_KWARG_ALIASES.get(key, key), value)
+    return merged
+
+
 def run(agent_file: str,
         framework: str | None = None,
         *,
         tools: list | None = None,
         agent_yaml: str | None = None,
-        cli_config: dict | None = None) -> str:
-    """One-line Python entry point. Equivalent to `praisonai <agent_file>`."""
+        cli_config: dict | None = None,
+        **kwargs: Any) -> str:
+    """One-line Python entry point. Equivalent to `praisonai <agent_file>`.
+
+    Advanced ``praisonai run`` options can be passed as loose keyword arguments.
+    ``model=`` (alias ``llm=``) selects the LLM like the CLI's ``--llm``;
+    ``session=`` resumes a session like ``--resume``; any other option is
+    forwarded through ``cli_config`` to the generator, mirroring the CLI's
+    pass-through.
+    """
     from .agents_generator import AgentsGenerator
 
     adapter, config_list = _resolve_run_inputs(framework)
+    _apply_model_override(config_list, kwargs)
+    cli_config = _merge_cli_config(cli_config, kwargs)
 
     # Own the generator's lifecycle so its lazily-allocated tool-timeout
     # executor is released once the single run completes, instead of leaking
@@ -73,8 +124,12 @@ async def arun(agent_file: str,
                *,
                tools: list | None = None,
                agent_yaml: str | None = None,
-               cli_config: dict | None = None) -> str:
-    """Async equivalent of `run()` using native async framework adapters."""
+               cli_config: dict | None = None,
+               **kwargs: Any) -> str:
+    """Async equivalent of `run()` using native async framework adapters.
+
+    Accepts the same loose keyword arguments as :func:`run`.
+    """
     import asyncio
 
     from .agents_generator import AgentsGenerator
@@ -83,6 +138,8 @@ async def arun(agent_file: str,
     # synchronous credential/config-file I/O does not block it. This is the
     # reason arun exists: a FastAPI handler awaiting arun must not stall the loop.
     adapter, config_list = await asyncio.to_thread(_resolve_run_inputs, framework)
+    _apply_model_override(config_list, kwargs)
+    cli_config = _merge_cli_config(cli_config, kwargs)
 
     # Own the generator's lifecycle so its lazily-allocated tool-timeout
     # executor is released once the single run completes, instead of leaking
diff --git a/src/praisonai/praisonai/api/call.py b/src/praisonai/praisonai/api/call.py
index cafa2d48e5..fa852842b0 100644
--- a/src/praisonai/praisonai/api/call.py
+++ b/src/praisonai/praisonai/api/call.py
@@ -41,6 +41,38 @@ def _maybe_load_dotenv() -> None:
 PORT = int(os.getenv('PORT', 8090))
 NGROK_AUTH_TOKEN = os.getenv('NGROK_AUTH_TOKEN')
 PUBLIC = os.getenv('PUBLIC', 'false').lower() == 'true'
+
+
+def _resolve_realtime_endpoint():
+    """Resolve the realtime WebSocket URL + auth headers.
+
+    Defaults to OpenAI so existing users with only ``OPENAI_API_KEY`` set keep
+    working unchanged. Operators running Azure / a self-hosted realtime-capable
+    gateway can point the voice path elsewhere without editing this module via:
+      - ``PRAISONAI_REALTIME_URL``    full ``wss://...`` URL (takes precedence)
+      - ``PRAISONAI_REALTIME_MODEL``  model for the default OpenAI URL
+      - ``PRAISONAI_REALTIME_API_KEY`` bearer key (falls back to OPENAI_API_KEY)
+    """
+    explicit_url = os.getenv('PRAISONAI_REALTIME_URL')
+    api_key = os.getenv('PRAISONAI_REALTIME_API_KEY') or OPENAI_API_KEY
+    if explicit_url:
+        headers = {"Authorization": f"Bearer {api_key}"} if api_key else {}
+        if "openai.com" in explicit_url:
+            headers["OpenAI-Beta"] = "realtime=v1"
+        return explicit_url, headers
+
+    model = os.getenv(
+        'PRAISONAI_REALTIME_MODEL', 'gpt-4o-realtime-preview-2024-10-01'
+    )
+    return (
+        f"wss://api.openai.com/v1/realtime?model={model}",
+        {
+            "Authorization": f"Bearer {api_key}",
+            "OpenAI-Beta": "realtime=v1",
+        },
+    )
+
+
 SYSTEM_MESSAGE = (
     "You are a helpful and bubbly AI assistant who loves to chat about "
     "anything the user is interested in and is prepared to offer them facts. "
@@ -313,12 +345,17 @@ async def handle_media_stream(websocket: WebSocket):
         print("Client connected")
         await websocket.accept()
 
+        realtime_url, realtime_headers = _resolve_realtime_endpoint()
         async with websockets.connect(
-            'wss://api.openai.com/v1/realtime?model=gpt-4o-realtime-preview-2024-10-01',
-            extra_headers={
-                "Authorization": f"Bearer {OPENAI_API_KEY}",
-                "OpenAI-Beta": "realtime=v1"
-            }
+            realtime_url,
+            extra_headers=realtime_headers,
+            # Bounded connect / heartbeat / close so a dead upstream cannot
+            # hold a live Twilio media leg (and phone number) indefinitely.
+            open_timeout=10,
+            ping_interval=20,
+            ping_timeout=20,
+            close_timeout=5,
+            max_size=2 ** 20,  # 1 MiB frame cap
         ) as openai_ws:
             await send_session_update(openai_ws)
             stream_sid = None
diff --git a/src/praisonai/praisonai/llm/gateways.py b/src/praisonai/praisonai/llm/gateways.py
index 5f030de66e..6a537d4546 100644
--- a/src/praisonai/praisonai/llm/gateways.py
+++ b/src/praisonai/praisonai/llm/gateways.py
@@ -78,6 +78,11 @@ def _resolve_model_and_kwargs(self, prompt: str, **kwargs):
         for key in ["provider", "gateway"]:
             completion_kwargs.pop(key, None)
         
+        # Enforce a default timeout + bounded retries so an unresponsive
+        # gateway cannot pin a request coroutine / worker thread forever.
+        from .registry import _apply_default_timeout
+        _apply_default_timeout(completion_kwargs)
+        
         messages = [{"role": "user", "content": prompt}]
         return litellm, self.model_id, messages, completion_kwargs
     
diff --git a/src/praisonai/praisonai/llm/registry.py b/src/praisonai/praisonai/llm/registry.py
index be82ea972c..20291ae6bd 100644
--- a/src/praisonai/praisonai/llm/registry.py
+++ b/src/praisonai/praisonai/llm/registry.py
@@ -31,6 +31,37 @@ def generate(self, prompt):
 ProviderType = Union[ProviderClass, ProviderFactory]
 
 
+# Default ceilings so an unresponsive provider cannot pin a request coroutine
+# (or a bridge worker thread) indefinitely. Both are overridable per-call via
+# kwargs, and the timeout is tunable for operators via PRAISONAI_LLM_TIMEOUT.
+_DEFAULT_LLM_TIMEOUT_SECONDS = 60.0
+_DEFAULT_LLM_NUM_RETRIES = 2
+
+
+def default_llm_timeout() -> float:
+    """Resolve the default LLM call timeout, tolerating a bad env value."""
+    import os  # lazy: keep module top-level imports to stdlib typing/threading only
+    raw = os.getenv("PRAISONAI_LLM_TIMEOUT")
+    if not raw:
+        return _DEFAULT_LLM_TIMEOUT_SECONDS
+    try:
+        return float(raw)
+    except ValueError:
+        import logging
+        logging.getLogger(__name__).warning(
+            "Invalid PRAISONAI_LLM_TIMEOUT=%r; falling back to %.0fs",
+            raw, _DEFAULT_LLM_TIMEOUT_SECONDS,
+        )
+        return _DEFAULT_LLM_TIMEOUT_SECONDS
+
+
+def _apply_default_timeout(completion_kwargs: Dict[str, Any]) -> Dict[str, Any]:
+    """Seed a default timeout + bounded retries. An explicit caller value wins."""
+    completion_kwargs.setdefault("timeout", default_llm_timeout())
+    completion_kwargs.setdefault("num_retries", _DEFAULT_LLM_NUM_RETRIES)
+    return completion_kwargs
+
+
 class LLMProviderRegistry(PluginRegistry[ProviderType]):
     """
     Registry for LLM providers.
@@ -255,6 +286,7 @@ def _resolve_model_and_kwargs(self, prompt: str, **kwargs):
             completion_kwargs = {
                 k: v for k, v in {**self.config, **kwargs}.items() if k != "provider"
             }
+            _apply_default_timeout(completion_kwargs)
             messages = [{"role": "user", "content": prompt}]
             return litellm, full_model, messages, completion_kwargs