India, July 14 -- The last time Pratibha Ranta was in her hometown Shimla, Himachal Pradesh, she was an actor in search of recognition. But last month, she returned after two-and-a-half-years, and admits the city's perception towards her had changed, courtesy the success of Laapataa Ladies (2024). "When I left Shimla five years ago, I realised that I will be gone for a long time and won't be able to come back frequently. But when I returned, the love that I received from the city and its people was beautiful. When I went to the Mall Road, people recognised me. I get recognised in other places too, but when people of your hometown do that, it's an indescribable feeling," she says. Ask the 24-year-old what she was missing the most from home while in Mumbai and she replies, "The food of Himachal. I couldn't eat Pahadi food in Mumbai because the climate doesn't support that. So when I returned, I ate Siddu, momos, ghee, other milk products and Pahadi cuisine." She adds, "The day I came back, my dadi made bedmi roti for me. In my village, I was treated with Poldu, then my nani fed me daal chawal. Every place that I went, I was treated with ghar ka khana and I loved it." Being away from home can take a mental toll, but for Pratibha, her family's support made her strong. "When you have family's support, you don't feel that distance. In a big city like Mumbai, low moments are inevitable, but you have to brave them through. You have to focus on the good things in your life, and then celebrate it with your family. Thus it took me this long to return and this was the best vacation of my life," she insists....