KATHMANDU: Nepali cinema is currently facing one of its toughest phases, with films failing consecutively at the box office.
The situation has become so bleak that most Nepali films released in recent months have struggled to even cross a gross collection of Rs 10 million. The last Nepali film to be considered successful was ‘Paran’, released on October 31. Since then, every release has failed to recover its investment.
At present, Nepali films are struggling to achieve even moderate earnings of Rs 30–50 million. Whether featuring established stars or newcomers, most films are performing poorly, with many unable to survive in theatres for more than a week.
Despite this continuous decline, releases have not slowed. Four films were released after October 31 in the same month. Five films came out in December, four in end of December, and by January, five more films had been released. On January 15 alone, three films, ‘Mirmire’, ‘Viral Gorkhe’, and ‘Gobar Ganesh’, hit theatres simultaneously.
From November 1, 2025, to January 19, a total of 17 films were released within roughly three months. Of these, 16 failed at the box office.
In contrast, foreign films continue to attract audiences. The Bollywood film ‘Dhurandhar’ has grossed over Rs 100 million. Similarly, Hollywood’s ‘Avatar: Fire and Ash’, earned more than Rs 65 million.
Actor power fails to deliver
During this three-month period, several films featuring popular actors were released, including ‘Jaari 2’, ‘Eklo’, ‘Viral Gorkhe’, ‘Mirmire’, and ‘Pariwartan’.
Among them, ‘Jaari 2’ performed the best, grossing over Rs 60 million. However, this is still considered weak compared to its prequel ‘Jaari’, which had earned around Rs 180 million. The sequel starred the currently busiest actor Dayahang Rai alongside Miruna Magar, raising expectations that ultimately went unmet.
Dayahang Rai’s next release, ‘Mirmire’, failed to last even a week in theatres and managed a gross collection of just over Rs 3.4 million, making it a major flop.
Similarly, Pradeep Khadka’s ‘Eklo’, despite featuring one of the industry’s most popular actors, flopped badly. Even its opening failed to impress, and the film’s total gross remained below Rs 50 million.
The action film ‘Pariwartan’, starring in-demand actress Anjana Baraili, also performed poorly. It failed to sustain a weeklong theatrical run and collected only around Rs 3.2 million.
Films earning in the thousands
Two films recorded shockingly low earnings, with collections limited to just a few thousand rupees. One such disaster was ‘Dhaago’, starring Suraksha Panta in the lead role. Released on November 4, 2025, the film earned only Rs 40,420. According to the Film Development Board, just 126 tickets were sold.
Another film, ‘Chirag’, fared slightly better but still managed only Rs 68,450 in gross collection, with 330 tickets sold.
Only four films cross the crore mark
Out of the 16 films released during this period, only four managed to cross the crore mark in gross collection. ‘Jaari 2’ remains the highest-grossing among them.
In second place is ‘Manabinako Dhan’, starring child singer Ashok Darji, which earned Rs 38.4 million and was considered an average performer.
Marichman Shrestha’s debut film ‘Balchhi Dhurbe’ crossed Rs 10 million despite stiff competition. Released on January 15, it clashed with ‘Mirmire’ and Saugat Malla’s ‘Viral Gorkhe’. While the latter two films were limited to around Rs 3 million, ‘Gobar Ganesh’ managed to earn over Rs 10.36 million.
Similarly, ‘Jharipachhiko Indreni’, the directorial debut of artist Arjun Ghimire ‘Pande’, recorded a gross collection of approximately Rs 10.28 million.
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