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Kathmandu — As Nepali film Kumari gears up for release this Friday, director Dinesh Raut has addressed ongoing comparisons between his film and the Hindi hit Saiyara, saying the two projects are fundamentally different.
The comparisons began when Kumari’s first-look poster was unveiled around the same time Saiyara was dominating the global box office. With both films introducing fresh faces and promoting a romantic tone, many viewers quickly drew parallels. Even after the release of songs and the trailer, social media users have continued calling Kumari a “Nepali version of Saiyara,” with several such remarks visible in the trailer’s YouTube comment section.
Speaking at an event in Kathmandu on Wednesday, Raut said the comparison reflects only a surface-level understanding.
“Calling Kumari the Nepali version of Saiyara is a superficial judgment. People are comparing the films just because both are love stories with new actors, without looking at the actual storyline. Once the film releases, that assumption will be proven wrong. The story of Kumari is completely different from Saiyara,” he said.
Raut also claimed that Kumari will feel different from his previous romantic films. According to him, his perspective on the romance genre has evolved over time.
“After a long time, I returned to making a love story at the suggestion of friends. My understanding of romance as a genre has changed compared to before. Viewers will definitely find something new in Kumari compared to my earlier love stories,” he added.
Set to release nationwide this Friday, Kumari stars Abishek Khadka and Aakriti Rajbhandari in lead roles. The film also features performances by Ghanshyam Joshi, Sunita Shrestha, Aakanksha Karki, Madhu Khadka, and Sanam Shrestha. It is produced by Mahendra Adhikari, written by Bikash Subedi, shot by Susan Prajapati, and edited by Suprim Parajuli.
The production team believes that once audiences watch the film, they will focus less on comparisons and more on the film’s unique story.
