Randhir Shrestha

Sahara Sharma is an independent Nepali filmmaker, writer, producer, and media entrepreneur recognized for her socially grounded narratives and youth‑focused storytelling. After completing her Master’s of Science in Communication from Bangalore University, she founded Gauthali Entertainment in Kathmandu, where she began shaping her voice as a director and media creator.Starting her career as a journalist with Nepal Republic Media, Sahara transitioned into filmmaking with several short films before directing her first television film, Chasing Rainbows (2013) — a bold exploration of sexuality, migration, and depression among Nepali youth. The film opened the Kathmandu International Mountain Film Festival (KIMFF 2013), won the Nepal Panorama Award, and later received the Critics’ Award at the Toronto Nepali Film Festival (2014).She has since produced and directed two television series — Gauthali ka Kathaharu (2017–18) and Maya Bhanne Cheez Estai Ho (2018–19) — and hosts Gauthali Talks (2020–), a roundtable show on cinema and media. Her new feature‑length project, Ek Mutthi Badal, marks her return to narrative filmmaking.

Ugen Chhopel (also credited as Ugyen Chopel) is a Nepali film director and screenwriter best known for shaping the emotional, character‑driven style of late‑1980s and 1990s Nepali cinema. He made a landmark debut with the classic Saino (1988), a film that became a cultural milestone and later inspired the Hindi TV series Ajnabi. Chhopel continued his directorial journey with Bandhu (1992), Trishna (1991), Nepali Babu (1999), and the acclaimed fantasy‑drama Badal Paree (2001). His work spans Nepali and Indian productions, marked by emotional depth, strong performances, and cross‑cultural storytelling. Chhopel is also the nephew of actor Danny Denzongpa, linking him to a prominent artistic lineage.

B.S. Thapa is recognized as one of the early pillars of Nepali cinema, contributing as a director, writer, and actor during the formative decades of the industry. He is best known for directing the acclaimed film Manko Baadh (1973), which earned strong appreciation for its emotional depth and social storytelling. Thapa also worked on several influential projects that helped shape the narrative style of Nepali films in the 1970s and 1980s, bringing literary sensitivity and dramatic realism to the screen. His commitment to character‑driven stories and disciplined filmmaking made him a respected figure among his contemporaries. Through his films, mentorship, and long-standing dedication to the craft, B. S. Thapa played a meaningful role in strengthening the foundation of Nepali cinema.