Rajesh Hamal राजेश हमाल
Hamal in 2022
Born	(1966-06-09) 9 June 1966 (age 57)[1] Tansen, Palpa, Nepal
Other names	Maha Nayak (महानायक)
Education	M.A. in English Literature
Alma mater	University of Delhi
Occupation(s)	Actor, television presenter,
Spouse	Madhu Bhattarai ​ (m. 2014)​
Awards	Full list

Rajesh Hamal (Nepali: राजेश हमाल [raˈdzes ɦʌˈmal] ^ⓘ) is a Nepalese film actor and television host. He is a popular actor in Nepali cinema and often called "Maha Nayak" ( nepali translate of Super Star) by his fans. His career success was at peak in the 1990s and early 2000s. He holds several box office records in Nepali cinema, including the most commercially successful film as lead actor, most consecutive hits, and most awards as an actor.^[2][3]

Hamal debuted as an actor in his uncle's film Yug Dekhi Yug Samma in 1989, which was a hit and made him a nationwide star. But the 1991 blockbuster Deuta marked a turning point in his career and launched Hamal to superstar status. Since then, he has appeared in over 200 films in a career spanning nearly three decades. He is widely regarded as one of the most influential personalities in Nepali cinema and was the most dominant actor throughout the 1990s and 2000s. Some of the other blockbusters featuring Hamal include Kasam (1992), Sadak and Prithvi (1994), Simana (1996), Shankar (1997), Chadni and Ek Number Ko Pakhe (1999), Basanti (2000), Dhukdhuki (2000), Hami Tin Bhai (2004), and Ajambari Nata (2005). He also hosted the first season of Nepali version of Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? titled as Ko Bancha Crorepati (2019).

Personal life

Rajesh Hamal was born on 9 June 1966.^[1] His father, Chuda Bahadur Hamal, was the Nepali ambassador to Pakistan,^[4] Hamal didn't communicate much with his father, telling Wavemag, "Every day of my life, I regret not bidding him with a proper goodbye. Additionally, I should have made an effort to properly communicate with my father, and talk about my aspirations and passion in a better way."^[5]

Hamal is a son of a diplomat. Hamal spent most of the time of his childhood in Nepal, where he attended private school till grade 8. In his early teen, he went to Moscow with his father. Hamal and his father remained in Russia for numerous years. He also started attending college in Russia itself. He then came to Chandigarh, India to finish his further education at Panjab University. At Punjab University itself, he completed his M.A in English literature.^[6]

Hamal is currently married to Madhu Bhattarai. They first met at the Lux Beauty Pageant in 2004.^[7] Hamal proposed to Bhattarai on 14 May, then he got married on 24 May 2014 in a private wedding ceremony at Hotel Annapurna, Kathmandu.^[7] Hamal said he was impressed by Bhattarai's talent at the Lux Beauty Pageant in 2004. Bhattarai was nervous to see her favorite actor as a judge that she couldn't answer his questions properly.^[8] Hamal and Bhattarai managed to keep their relationship secret for five years; the couple admitted they were in a relationship for two years before getting married.^[8] He married in a private ceremony at Hotel Annapurna, Kathmandu, but he threw a reception party with more than 1000 guests. He married at an odd age because he felt pressure from his family as well as fans. Hamal and his wife Madhu don't have any children as of now. There are few known hobbies of Rajesh Hamal besides acting.

Career

Acting career

Before entering the film industry, Hamal modeled for a magazine in India named Fashion Net while studying at University of Delhi.^[6] He appeared in a fashion show organised by the Indian Embassy Women Association in the late 1980s.^[6]

Hamal's first starring role was set to be in Bhagya Rekha (1987) opposite Karishma Manandhar. Later, Manandhar left the project, which led Kristi Mainali to join the project. After Mainali joined, the filming began however, after the film director Deepak Rayamajhi was rumored to suspect an affair between the lead actors, which led two of the lead actors to leave the project. Both were replaced by Rabindra Khadka and Mausami Malla. After the film's release, it became a blockbuster; the film also led the film director Deepak Rayamajhi to become a credible film director in the early Nepali cinema industry.

The affair between Kristi Mainali and Hamal became highly popular throughout Nepal, and after Deepak Rayamajhi's successful film directing debut, he signed Mainali and Hamal into his next project titled Yug Dekhi Yug Samma (1988).^[9] The film follows two young couples who are amidst the pressure of their family rivalries. In addition to the lead actors' debut, it was also the film producer Chhabiraj Ojha, and action director Rajendra Khadgi's film debut too. Hamal later told Teenz, "Actually somewhere inside I always wanted to act. More than acting, I was fascinated by films. I wanted something in the field, but I did not know how to begin. Luckily, my cousin was a part of the film industry and he offered me a role. That was in 1987, and at that time. I did not know I would be doing films for the next 20 years".^[10]

In 1991, Hamal joined up with Tulsi Ghimire for the first time, in his directorial film project called Deuta.^[11] The film starred Hamal in the lead role, while the film also starred Shrawan Ghimire, Srijana Basnet, and Tulsi Ghimire in the supporting roles. Upon the film's release, it became a super hit at the box office of Nepal. The film is also considered the film that launched his stardom in the Nepali film industry.^[12] The Kathmandu Post wrote, "Incidentally, this was also the film that catapulted Hamal into stardom and while that alone could place Deuta in a Kollywood Hall of Fame (if such a thing existed), the movie is much more than that".^[13]

In 2000, Hamal was cast in actor Neer Shah's directorial film titled Basanti (2000). In the film Hamal portrayed the role of Gagan Singh Khawas, alongside Hamal appeared with Karishma Manandhar, Gauri Malla, and Divya Dutta. The film is based on the novel of the same written by Diamond Shumsher Rana. Hamal considers his favourite film to be Deuta (1991), and Basanti (2000). Bijaya Adhikari of OnlineKhabar wrote, "However, filmmakers like Nir Shah, one of the forerunners of the historical period drama genre, has been consistently making successful films in the genre like Basanti, Masaan and Seto Bagh."^[14] Rachana Chettri, and Preena Shrestha of The Kathmandu Post also wrote, "Cinematographically, the film achieves its purpose of bringing the old palaces and courtyards populated by royals and their supporters back to life."^[15]

Then in 2004, Hamal appeared in a Shiva Regmi directorial film named Hami Tin Bhai (2004). The film starred an ensemble cast of Shree Krishna Shrestha, Nikhil Upreti, Jharana Thapa, Nandita K.C., and Rekha Thapa.^[16] In 2018 it was announced the sequel of the film.

However, Rajesh Hamal did not restrict his career to only movies. He as well started appearing on Television shows and advertisements in 2004. A popular Nepalese show called Wai Wai Quiz Whiz is his first-ever television appearance. He also had a guest appearance on Miss Angel Program in the same year. In the early 2000s, Hamal got endorsed by various companies to star in advertisements, and commercials, as well as he was discerned alongside numerous products comprising steel, soap, investment company, bank as well as cement. However, his focus on cinema and appearing on them was always intact. He also endorses the first bike which is made in Nepal called Cosmic Ying Yang and he has also been a face of NMB bank, Indica Easy, Global College of Management.

Rajesh Hamal also been seen on various music videos including Malingo, Hajur Mussukai and Shailung by Bikas Rana directed by Nitin Chand

Television hosting

Hamal has twice been judge for Miss Nepal, once in 1997 with Kamal Rupakheti, Laxmi Keshari Manandhar, and Sanjaya Agarwal, the event was won by Jharana Bajracharya.^[17] After 10 years later he was the chief judge of Miss Nepal 2007,^[18] he judged alongside Malvika Subba, and Bhusan Dahal, the event was won by Sitashma Chand.^[19] In 2019, he was hosting the Nepali version of Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?.^[20]

In the media

Hamal is often referred to as "Mahanayak",^[21][22] and "Rajesh Dai".^[23] Karishma Manandhar, Nepali actress said, if Hamal ran for Mayor of Kathmandu she would vote for him.^[24]

Hamal is ceaselessly acting and he has not provided any sign of retirement. However, he has been less active after the wedding as a result of he might need to be chosen to quiet down however his fame and name are going to be carried to varied generations to return. He is renowned to own set standards high for varied reasons. The primary reason is that he has this ability in a vast array of roles. He did not limit himself to only one kind of character. That showed his versatility which won him numerous awards that depicted his personality throughout a decade. Another reason is that he has created the associate look in additional than 200 films until these days. One more reason is that Hamal has increased the cinematic standards by his ability and talent. There is no denying his skillful acting because he has been honored with various nominations and awards. In the year 1998, the Nepalese government gave him an honor for his contribution to Nepali cinema. He received an honorable mention from the National Human Right commission from the year 2000–2003 and also from the late King Birendra as well as the Armed Police Force. He constantly got official honors from the Federation of Nepali Journalists. The latest honor he received was provided by then-President Dr. Rambaran Yadav in the year 2015. Hamal is known as an icon for any Nepali film industry enthusiast, director, and actor. Not just Nepal, he has become an iconic figure in 36-24-36 other countries as well. His dedication and commitment can be justified by his numerous successful years. The film career of Rajesh Hamal might not be as active as before but that doesn't mean his impact in the industry also doesn't exist. Not only Nepal is influenced by Rajesh Hamal, but he has also impacted wider scope, earning the respect of many other influential people in the film industry.

In response to the April 2015 Nepal earthquake, Rajesh Hamal joined the Building Back initiative, an initiative intended to aid in reconstruction efforts following the earthquake, as a Goodwill ambassador.^[25][26]

On 14 May 2017, Hamal was the subject of a death hoax. It was reported that he died after his car was struck by a large truck. Hamal stated that he believed people should be careful when reporting such news.^[27]

Awards and nominations