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Actors Khagendra Lamichhane and Dipendra K. Khanal have been consistently working together on back-to-back films in recent times. While Dipendra is rapidly producing films, Khagendra has become an inseparable part of almost all of them.
However, lately, not just their choice of films but other actions have increasingly drawn controversy.
Just today, the biopic ‘Captain Saab’—reportedly based on the life of Rameshwar Thapa, owner of Annapurna Media Group—was formally inaugurated in Kathmandu. However, the film has already sparked controversy. Following the announcement, former journalists and employees of Annapurna Post took to social media with sarcastic remarks, urging that the injustices they faced while working at the publication and the unpaid wages still owed to them also be included in the film.
Senior photojournalist Bikash Karki, who worked at the media house for a long time, shared the online article about the film on Facebook and wrote:
“During the COVID crisis, our salaries were cut by 50%. Those who protested were transferred to remote locations like Dhangadhi, Manang, Mustang, Ilam, and Darchula. Those who recommended such transfers were rewarded. Director sir, don’t forget to include our protests too!”
Likewise, senior arts journalist and screenwriter Samipya Timilsina posted:
“We filed a lawsuit in the labor court for unpaid wages, and the case is still unresolved. It might cost us an additional few hundred rupees. Anyway, a ‘supremely inspirational’ story is coming to the big screen.”
Samipya and 10 others have filed complaints regarding unpaid salaries. Similar issues have reportedly existed with Annapurna Television as well.
This marks the third major controversy involving the Khagendra–Dipendra duo.
Previously, the film Mayor, based on the life of Bharat Thapa, Mayor of Bagmati Municipality in Sarlahi district, was launched with much fanfare before going into production. However, by the time the film reached the editing stage, it had become embroiled in scandal. The Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) filed a corruption case against Mayor Thapa. He is currently out on bail, fighting the case. Khagendra played the lead role in that film, which now remains in limbo.
Just a few days ago, both Khagendra and Dipendra signed a petition launched by the Rastriya Swatantra Party, which alleged that the state was retaliating against its president, Rabi Lamichhane, who is in custody over allegations of cooperative fraud and embezzlement of depositors’ funds. Once photos and videos of the duo signing the petition surfaced, they too came under public scrutiny.
Questions arose such as: “Is it appropriate for artists—who are supposed to have a sense of justice and conscience—to involve themselves in matters still under judicial review?” Khagendra received particular backlash for acting in Mahabhoj, a film made in support of cooperative victims, while publicly siding with the accused. This has cast serious doubts on their moral responsibility.
And now, the Captain Saab biopic has added fuel to the fire, dragging Khagendra and Dipendra into yet another controversy. Time will tell how they respond to this new wave of criticism.
