Gopal Bhutani (born Gopal Tamang, 1932 – November 23, 2010) was a pioneering Nepali art director, actor, and action choreographer who shaped the visual language of Nepali cinema.
Born in Fikkal, Ilam, he began his film journey in Bollywood in the 1940s before returning to Nepal, where he introduced action direction to a melodrama-dominated industry. Despite his immense contributions, he struggled to obtain Nepali citizenship due to the “Bhutani” surname. Bhutani worked on over 70 films, including Balidaan, Aago, Shankar, Mamaghar, Shiris Ko Phool, and Jeevan Sangharsha. He passed away at age 78 from stomach cancer. His legacy remains foundational in Nepali film aesthetics and action choreography.
