Actress Saiee M Manjrekar is gearing up for a serene and meaningful New Year celebration as she prepares to return to Matheran, which she lovingly considers her second home.
For those unfamiliar, Matheran is a charming hill station near Mumbai, renowned for its pleasant climate and well-preserved colonial architecture. Notably, the location has banned motor vehicles, with many visitors opting for the scenic journey on the 1907 Neral–Matheran Toy Train.
Reflecting on her connection to Matheran, Saiee shared that this hill town has been a significant part of her life since childhood and has become increasingly personal to her over the years.
“This New Year, I find myself returning to Matheran with a few close friends, a place that has always felt like a second home. I’ve been coming here since childhood with my family and friends, and over time, it has quietly become a part of who I am,” she expressed.
With no cars and a slower pace of life, Matheran offers a unique charm.
Saiee fondly recalled the horse rides along misty trails, shaded forests, and serene viewpoints, describing these experiences as almost meditative.
“I still carry vivid memories of riding here with my parents and siblings, moments filled with laughter, togetherness, and a sense of freedom that only time and nature can provide. Horse riding through misty trails, shaded forests, and quiet viewpoints feels almost meditative, allowing memories to surface naturally.”
For Saiee, it’s the simple pleasures that define her time in Matheran. From enjoying vada pav at a long-time vendor to relishing gola on warm afternoons and Maggi at a local tapri, she values how these moments help her reconnect with her roots.
“After long rides, the simplest pleasures feel the most rewarding—vada pav from a vendor we’ve known for years, gola on warm afternoons, and Maggi at a small tapri. Away from five-star comforts, these moments reconnect me to my roots and remind me of how little one truly needs to feel content.”
Welcoming the New Year in Matheran, for Saiee, feels like a return to simplicity and authenticity, honoring the memories that continually shape her.
The 23-year-old actress made her film debut with a brief appearance as Kushi Damle in the Marathi film Kaksparsh in 2012. She later took on her first leading role as Khushi Chautala in the 2019 Hindi action-comedy Dabangg 3 opposite Salman Khan and featured in the music video for “Manjha” alongside Aayush Sharma in 2020.
She was next seen in Kuch Khattaa Ho Jaay opposite Guru Randhawa, and most recently, in the Telugu action drama Arjun Son Of Vyjayanthi, directed by Pradeep Chilukuri. This film stars Nandamuri Kalyan Ram and Vijayashanti, alongside Saiee Manjrekar, Sohail Khan, Babloo Prithiveeraj, Srikanth, and R. Sarathkumar. It serves as a spiritual sequel to the 1990 film Karthavyam, with Vijayashanti reprising her role as Kalyan Ram’s mother.