0
Shares
The biopic film Mayor, which garnered much buzz during its production for its high production value and for assembling a crowd of 11,000 people, now faces uncertainty as its real-life subject — Bharat Thapa, Mayor of Bagmati Municipality in Sarlahi district — has been convicted of corruption.
The Special Court has ruled that Thapa caused a loss of river-based materials worth Rs. 302.9 million during the construction of Bharat Pond. Alongside Thapa, Bimal Kumar Pokhrel and Sagar Paudel have also been found guilty of corruption in the project, while Deputy Mayor Leela Kumari Moktan, Bishwaraj Pokhrel, and Methur Chaudhary have been acquitted.
Wednesday’s verdict has made the future of the biopic Mayor, which Thapa created to portray himself as a heroic figure, even more uncertain.
The film is directed by Dipendra K. Khanal, with Khagendra Lamichhane portraying the character of Bharat Thapa.
Alongside Khagendra, the cast includes Barsha Raut, Arpan Thapa, Anup Baral, Divyadev, Harihar Sharma, Rabindra Jha, Prakash Ghimire, Ramesh Budhathoki, Sanjog Rasaili, Ashant Sharma, Prabhakar Neupane, and Jhaken BC.
The film also marks the acting debut of Thapa’s daughter, Arvisha Thapa.
At the time of the film’s announcement, the producers had claimed it would depict the journey of a man with a strong vision to do good, who, despite facing challenges and betrayals, strives to lead society towards economic, social, and educational progress. However, the court’s decision has now raised questions about whether the film’s production itself was a scam.
Additionally, two more cases are pending against Bharat Thapa — one related to forest issues in Sarlahi, and another involving alleged misappropriation of funds brought under the pretext of mango orchard development.
