Kathmandu: Actor Rajesh Hamal has returned to the big screen after an eight-year hiatus with the release of the film Narasimha Avatar, which premiered across Nepal today, Friday. Hamal stated that he returned to acting because he was finally offered a role that suited him and felt right.

“I received many offers to act in films, but I didn’t find roles that suited me, and I was busy with other engagements. Even when I was approached for this film, I wasn’t initially in the mindset to act. But once the director narrated the script, I found a role that I was looking for. The subject matter of the film, a role that suited me, and a team of trustworthy directors and producers are the reasons I decided to return to cinema,” Hamal explained.

Hamal clarified that although he had received numerous offers over the years, he stayed away from films due to the lack of satisfactory roles. Particularly after the failure of his two films Bagmati and Shakuntala, he focused more on advertisements, festivals, and television appearances rather than films.

“When films with scripts I liked were released, I didn’t find the production quality up to the mark. That’s why I took a break and remained busy with other activities. This time, everyone has worked hard, and I am also eagerly waiting to see the audience’s reaction,” he said.

Director Diwakar Bhattarai expressed that bringing a well-established actor like Hamal back to the screen was both an opportunity and a challenge for him. “I don’t need to speak about Hamal’s fanbase. Audiences who come to theaters to see him won’t be disappointed—I am confident in my work. The main attraction of our film is the story, and every character has been cast fittingly according to the setting,” Bhattarai said.

Alongside Hamal, the film features Raj Katuwal, Niti Shah, Sanisha Bhattarai, Saroj Khanal, Deepa Shahi, Usha Khadgi, and child actors Avelina Khadka and Samaira Thapa, among others.

The production team reported that Narasimha Avatar has secured 133 screenings across Nepal. The film was jointly produced by NEM Maharjan, Deepak Sharma Dhakal, Narendra Maharjan, and Dhruva Nyaupane.