‘The World’s Happiest Man’ in final stage of post-production

By A Staff Reporter,Kathmandu, July 19: The film ‘Bhuthan’ in Nepali and ‘The World’s Happiest Man’ in English has reached the final stage of post-production. 

Actors Hari Bansha Acharya and Dayahang Rai play the main roles in the film while actresses Pooja Chand-Lama and Richa Ghimire have also done the film.

Along with the director of the film ‘Sanghuro,’ Joss Pandey, Aditi Pyakurel, and famous Hollywood actor Bruce Dern have also played the important roles in the film.

This is the first Nepali movie made under Hollywood’s SAG-AFTRA, in the involvement of some Hollywood technicians.

 Film producer Abiral Thapa said that there are many coincidences in the film.  

Initially, the team approached to Bollywood actors Naseeruddin Shah and Anupam Kher, both of whom liked the script. However, Naseeruddin Shah declined the offer due to technical reasons.

Then Anupam Kher and Adil Hussain were offered roles.

 Playwright Bimal Subedi and the film’s co-producer Shailesh Mainali went to Mumbai and reached an agreement with Anupam Kher. However, the film’s director Binod Poudel decided to work with Nepali actors to maintain the film’s integrity, said producer Thapa.

Later, in a twist of fate, Nepal’s most popular actor Hari Bansha Acharya was cast, bringing the character to life even more, added Thapa.

 Another sweet coincidence is the involvement of the famous Indian theater actress and Professor Anuradha Majumder, a well-known name in Nepal as well, added Thapa.

 In January 2024, she came to America as a volunteer to participate in a seminar, visit the site during shooting, and mentor the filmmaking process at the special request of her student, director Binod Paudel. 

During the shooting, actress Jaga Maya Subedi, who had been recovering from cancer, fell ill and was unable to perform.

 Anuradha, at the director’s special request, resolved the shooting obstacles by stepping into the role without remuneration.

 The production team hopes that the film, made with the support and cooperation of many people on a small budget, will mark the presence of Nepali films in the global market.

The film unit is preparing to release the film by the end of 2024.