A Quiet Life in the Sahyadri Hills
More than two decades after stepping away from Bollywood, actress Malini Sharma has found herself in the spotlight again. Sharma, who now runs The Slow Local, a farmstay in the Sahyadri Hills near Pune, went viral on social media after fans identified her as the actress who played the ghost in Vikram Bhatt's 2002 horror filmRaaz The sudden attention brought an influx of messages and calls, prompting her to respond with a video thanking supporters and clarifying how to reach her team.
'You Guys Have Just Done Wonders'
In a video shared on social media, Sharma greeted fans with a note of surprise and gratitude. "Hi, this is Malini with The Slow Local diaries. Aap logon ne toh kamaal kar diya. Iski mujhe bilkul umeed nahi thi. Thank you, gratitude," she said, according to Free Press Journal.
The Indian Express quoted a slightly different rendering of her remarks: "Hi, this is Malini with Slow Local Diaries. You guys have just done wonders. I wasn't expecting this at all. Thank you. Gratitude. I am overwhelmed. I actually don't have any words to say."
Sharma elaborated on her surprise, saying, "I am overwhelmed and actually do not have any word to say. Par ek chhoti si request hai. Hamara farmstay bahut chhota sa hai aur itni saari calls farmstay wale numbers pe process karna hamare liye mushkil ho raha hai" (But there is one small request. Our farmstay is very small, and it is difficult for us to process so many calls on the farmstay numbers).
A Request for WhatsApp Bookings
Both reports noted that Sharma requested fans to contact the farmstay via WhatsApp rather than by calling. "I request you all to use the FarmStay number for WhatsApp messages—only for bookings," she said, as quoted by The Indian Express. The request came as the team struggled to manage the high volume of calls, a detail also mentioned by Free Press Journal.
Sharma acknowledged the flood of messages on social media as well. "Insta pe toh aap mujhe message bhej rahe hain aur bahut saare bhej rahe hain" (On Instagram you are sending me messages, and many of them), she said, adding that she would try to respond to everyone at least once. "I am the Slow Local, so I will do it slowly. Please bear with me," she added, according to The Indian Express.
From Bollywood to the Farm
Sharma's path to the farm was anything but direct. She began her career as a model and appeared in music videos before making her Bollywood debut inRaaz, where she played the ghost opposite Bipasha Basu and Dino Morea. She also appeared in the television series S. and was featured in songs including "Aapke Pyaar Mein." Despite the success ofRaaz, Sharma reportedly stepped away from acting, with The Indian Express noting that she decided to back out of the filmEncounter just 48 hours before it was scheduled to go on floors.
Years before moving to the farm, Sharma had launched The Slow Local in Mumbai's Versova, where the space hosted workshops for children, including storytelling sessions, and was associated with plant exhibitions and homemade products such as ceramics, crochet, cakes, and other food items, according to The Indian Express. Her love for homemade and organic products eventually drew her to the Sahyadri Hills, where she now runs a farmstay and grows fruits, vegetables, and medicinal plants.
Despite the unexpected attention, Sharma appeared gracious and down-to-earth in her video, asking for patience as she navigated the digital deluge. "I will try and reply to all of you," she said, reaffirming her commitment to her supporters.