Nischal Basnet | Biography, Early life and Education, Career, Relationship

Nischal Basnet is one of the best actors, singers, successful directors and producers of Nepal. Basnet has directed three feature films: Loot (2012), Talakjung vs Tulke (2014) and Loot 2 (2017). He debuted as a film director with the crime-thriller Loot, which earned 25.5 million Nepalese rupees (NPR) and became a “cult classic”.

Biography of Nischal Basnet

Name	Nischal Basnet
Nickname	Kale Dai
Date of Birth	January 17, 1981
Birthplace	Kathmandu
Village	Jhapa, Britmod
Father	Indra Bahadur Basnet
Mother	Indra Basnet
College	Oscar International College, Sukedhara, Kathmandu
Education	Bachelor of Arts in Film Studios
Occupation	Director, Producer, Actor
Wife	Swastima Khadka

Early Life and Education

Nischal Basnet was born on the 17th of January, 1981 at Kathmandu. His permanent address is Jhapa, Britmod. He finished his schooling from Kathmandu and went to India to complete his +2 study. Back then,  Nischal Basnet was more interested in football. He wanted to be a footballer but his family forced him to leave football. His mother wanted him to become a doctor or an army officer and he nearly applied his name to join the military but he changed mind at the last moment.

He was also interested in singing and once he had a dream to be a singer. He had also recorded some songs but it was lost due to studio closing down which made his dream unfulfilled. Then without any thinking went to Oscar International College at Kathmandu and graduated in Bachelor of Arts in Film Studios. Later he traveled to Australia to study 3D animation, but changed to hospitality and became a chef. This stint in hospitality included everything from “washing dishes to cleaning floors”. He said that he believed he was making no progress, so he left Australia and returned to Nepal.

Career

Nischal Basnet has told that nothing was going right in his life until he watched Nepali movies. When he watched Nepali movies he thought that they were very boring and mind-numbing. So, he thought to make movies within 5 years and started to spend his days in the library reading books and researching about film-making. After doing much research and hard work he directed an unreleased short film titled Innocent, which criticizes gun culture in Kathmandu. This film started struggling during its post-production.

 

Basnet said that he didn’t think he would release the film, blaming his inexperience for its outcome. Then in the same year, he directed the crime thriller movie Loot. He was thinking it wouldn’t be hit and prayed for the nice outcome. But it became a blockbuster at the box office, earning NPR 25.5 million Nepalese rupees (approximately US$218,000 in 2019). The film became a cult classic that was loved by the audiences. Nischal Basnet contributed to vocals as a playback singer to the film’s original song, “Udhreko Choli”, with Indira Joshi.

Then he directed Kabaddi and also played as the main lead. It was also loved by the people and they loved the concept of making the movie romantic comedy. Basnet later 2014 directed the dark comedy Talakjung vs Tulke, which was critically acclaimed and commercially successful. The film was selected as the Nepalese entry for the Best Foreign Language Film at the 88th Academy Awards, but it was not nominated.

Then in 2017, he directed the sequel his debut Loot, titled Loot 2 which became a blockbuster at the box office, grossing NPR 78.5 million. The same year, Basnet acted in the comedy-drama Dui Rupaiyan (2017). After Dui Rupaiyan, Basnet made an appearance in the romantic drama Prasad. In 2019, Basnet directed his film, Ghamad Shere. He had played a lead role in this movie with Swastima Khadka, Sushma Niraula, and Gauri Malla.

Awards

Award	Year	Category	Film
Dcine Award	2012	Best Debut Director	Loot
National Film Award	2015	Best Director	Talakjung vs Tulke
Dcine Award	2017	Best Cameo Role	Lappan Chappan

Nischal Basnet and Swastima Khadka

Nischal Basnet aka KaleDai got married to beautiful Nepali actress Swastima Khadka on 17 February 2016. They are known as Rashtriya Dai and Bhauju.