Bipasha Basu's co-actor vanished from Bollywood after 'Aapke Pyaar Mein' fame; 23 years later, she is growing her own vegetables & hosting guests at farmstay in Sahyadris

Remember Malini Sharma from Raaz? In the early 2000s, she was a familiar face in music videos, television and Bollywood. Her appearance in the 2002 horror film Raaz, particularly in the song Aapke Pyaar Mein, made her recognisable to a much wider audience.

But while many expected her career to grow after the film, Sharma gradually stepped away from the entertainment industry. More than two decades later, she is living a very different life in the Sahyadris, where she is associated with The Slow Local, grows vegetables and runs a farmstay for guests.

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Malini Sharma became popular with Raaz and music videos

Sharma had already made a name for herself through modelling, music videos and television before appearing in Vikram Bhatt's Raaz in 2002. The film starred Bipasha Basu and Dino Morea and went on to become a major success.


Although Sharma was not the film's lead actress, her appearance in Aapke Pyaar Mein remains one of the most remembered parts of her brief Bollywood stint.

For viewers who grew up watching early-2000s music videos, she was also associated with Bombay Vikings' Kya Soorat Hai and later appeared in Mika Singh's Saawan Mein Lag Gayi Aag. She also featured in the television show CATS alongside Nafisa Joseph and Kuljeet Randhawa.

Why did Malini Sharma leave Bollywood?

Sharma did not make a dramatic public announcement about quitting Bollywood. Instead, she gradually moved away from the spotlight.

In 2002, she reportedly pulled out of Encounter just 48 hours before filming was due to begin. According to reports cited by India Today, after years of working as a model and actor, she had begun thinking about exploring work behind the camera.

Over the years, her appearances in mainstream entertainment became increasingly rare. Rather than chasing another acting opportunity, Sharma began building a life and career outside the film industry.

From Bollywood to The Slow Local

Sharma eventually founded The Slow Local, a venture centred around local food, crafts, workshops and community experiences.

The project initially hosted pop-ups and events in Mumbai's Versova. It included homemade bread, granola, jams, peanut butter, South Indian coffee and oils, along with activities such as children's storytelling sessions and craft workshops.

Over time, The Slow Local evolved into something much closer to nature.

Malini Sharma now runs a farmstay near Pune

Today, Sharma is based in the Sahyadri Hills, around two hours from Pune. Her life there is a far cry from the Mumbai film industry.

She grows vegetables on the farm and uses the produce to prepare meals for guests staying at the property. The farmstay is also part of the wider Slow Local experience, built around food, nature and a slower pace of life.

In one of her Instagram videos, Sharma spoke about the challenge of growing enough vegetables for the property.

“When I started The Slow Local Diaries, I confessed I did a shoddy job with the vegetable produce but this year, the produce has been better. The challenge is to produce enough for meal after meal,” she said.

Malini Sharma returns to camera after 23 years

Interestingly, Sharma has recently returned to the camera, but not for a Bollywood film.

She launched The Slow Local Diaries, a video diary offering followers a glimpse into her life on the farm. In the caption accompanying the first video, she wrote, “Facing the camera again after very long... this time the real me, no makeup, no dialogues, shooting from the heart.”

The video also directly addressed the question that fans had been asking for years.

“Hi, this is Malini, facing the camera again after 23 years of Raaz. For those of you wondering where I disappeared, well, I am alive. I am here to present The Slow Local Diaries,” she said.

The return was made even more nostalgic with Aapke Pyaar Mein from Raaz featuring in the video.

Sharma shares glimpses of her farm life, food, work and The Slow Local Diaries through the Instagram account @theslowlocal. The account has become the main window into her life today, with videos showing her return to the camera and her everyday experiences away from Bollywood.


Inputs from agencies