How do you feel about the success of “Talakjung Vs Tulke”? Was it expected?

The team involved in producing the movie was really good and we had much hope from the movie. People were eagerly waiting for Nischal’s (the director of the movie) new work and they got what they wanted. Even when it was staged as a play in 2007, it had been a success. It was then that we had the idea of turning it into a film.

More importantly, the plot of the movie, which is based on a common man’s struggling for his identity in the backdrop of chaos and uncertainty in the country, was something that many people could relate to. It didn’t become a hit out of the blue. When you have a good story and the right people working on it, it’s bound to be appreciated by the people.

When did you first think you were going to write?

I was quite sensitive even as a kid. But I could not always get the adults to listen to me. So I started jotting down my thoughts. Anything that crossed my mind, I would write it down, which in turn, gave me satisfaction. That very habit of penning down random ideas paved the way for a professional writing career.

Who are you first: a writer, director or an actor?

There’s no first or second for me. It’s good when you can do all three of these.

I remember watching a drama for the first time in my life. It was Sarubhakta’s “Golarda Ko Kaalo Aakash”, which was being staged in Pokhara in 1999. I felt so good after watching the play that I immediately decided to make theatre my career.

Later, I started writing scripts for plays and directing them, and in this process, my acting got sidelined. That’s not a problem, though. It’s more about doing whatever it takes—in a play or a film—to produce a good work.

You’ve worked in stage plays, radio dramas and movies. Which do you find to be the most demanding?

They are all demanding in their own ways. While working in a movie, you have some advantages regarding time, location and resources. Like when you want a scene of a river, you can actually go to a river and do the shooting, unlike a play, where you cannot. Additionally, when it comes to theatre, the audience gets a chance to observe the characters from up close, which demands a lot from the actors. But in the case of films, most of the time, the larger-than-life characters and sequences make it difficult for the viewer to comprehend the actors and their craft.

Finally, when it comes to the radio, you have to be much more imaginative while creating the atmosphere and constructing the characters, as words are the only means of visualising a scenario.

You seem to place a lot of emphasis on accents. Why is that?

I feel comfortable writing in the dialect that I grew up communicating in. I’ve also written in standard Nepali language, but I feel I can express myself more fluidly in my own mother tongue, that is, the dialect used in and around the Gandaki zone in western Nepal. I feel it’s the same with people belonging to other regions as well—we all have things we are comfortable with and can relate to.

How do you view the growth of the Nepali theatre scene?

Theatre groups are growing by the day.

There are a lot more theatres and theatre groups in Kathmandu than when you first started. Do you think it’s healthy to have it be so crowded?

I’m quite surprised with the number of theatres in Kathmandu now. I really don’t have any idea how they’re surviving. It’s true that the number of theatre-goers has grown, but even so, the number of theatres has reached a saturation point. It’s tough. If you’re not good enough, you cannot survive. But, having said that, I also understand how it is to have a dream of running a theatre. It is important for the artists to follow their dreams fearlessly.

Who are your favourite Nepali actors?

When I was younger, I grew up enjoying Rajesh Hamal’s flicks—his acting attracted me so much. But, over time, as I started to gain more knowledge regarding the art, I went on to actors like Saroj Khanal, who I think is a master of acting. His works have touched my heart and inspired me.

Similarly, when it comes to my contemporaries, I like Saugat Malla. He’s a fine actor.

Do you read often? Who are your favourite writers?

Among Nepali writers, I really like the works of Indra Bahadur Rai, Parijat and Buddhisagar. Also, Indian writer Mohan Rakesh’s works have inspired me a lot.  

Any memorable moment you want to share with us?

I was shocked when I was called for an interview by the BBC. Apparently, my friends, on my behalf, had applied for the job. I didn’t know and I had never imagined myself as an employee of such a big institution. I went to the interview anyway. Surprisingly, I got the job. That’s something that is very memorable to me.

If not in this field, what do you think would you be doing?

I have a farm in my village in Syangja. We grow oranges. I frequently visit there to oversee things myself. If not in this field, I would’ve perhaps been a good farmer.