Kathmandu, August 28: "I have not even thought that an emotional mode like this will occur in my life," actor Sunil Thapa said at the beginning of the programme. While stating this, the 57-year bald-headed actor who has grown French-cut beard tried to hide his face with his left hand and bowedhis head a little. He stopped speaking. When he raised his head, everyone saw tears were trickling down from his eyes.

"You have made me a complete actor," he said wiping away his tears," I am realizing this today."Nicknamed as Rate Kahinla of Nepali film industry, Sunil Thapa mostly did negative roles in Nepali movies. He tortured many and made many cry in reel.

He became popular as Rate Kahinla due to the 'RateKahinla' character he did in Chino, the hit Nepali movie of 1989. This same actor cried at a function organized to honour him for taking Nepalis' identity to Bollywood. He had returned to Nepal recently after attending the music launching of his latest Bollywood movie Mary Kom and a few promotional campaign. 

However, he shed tear not because of the success he achieved inBollywood.Before doing his first Nepali movie Masal in 1982, Thapa had done Bollywood movies Ek Dujeke Liye, Aajaki Awaj and Manav Hatya. The felicitation programme was organized by three different film related organizations at the Annapurna Hotel.

He was unable to control tears after watching a short documentary consisting his journey from Chino to Sanjay Leela Bhansali's Mary Kom, which was shown at the beginning of the felicitation programme. Before sharing his latest Bollywood experience, actor Thapa reviewed his career of three and half decades in Nepali films. "Everyone took me as a goon, many sisters scolded and cursed me in the movie halls, "he said removing sweats from his bald head.

"When I felt the scolding and curse I was receiving was intolerable, I asked my few friends whatI could do. But my friends termed this all as my success in the screen and congratulated me. Thereafter I moved ahead with what I was doing because there was and is no "NO" in my dictionary." He also informed the gathering about Mary Kom, his Bollywood movie.

Casting director Shruti Mahajan had proposed him on phone to do the film based on life of boxer Mary Kom of Manipur, India. He answered in 'Yes' without thinking anything. Shruti sent him script for three scenes for his audition and Thapa sent clips of his video audition from Kathmandu. Then Sanjay Leela Bhansali and Priyanka Chopra were in Canada, they Okayed his audition clips and he was invited to Mumbai.

"In the beginning the actors had to have interaction with directors and analyze the script," he told about the way he started working in the film directed by Omung Kumar. "I read the dialogues and become familiar with the situation required by the dialogues. After studying the script for a month, the physical training began. Priyanka and we worked 12 hours a day in the physical training."

He also did not forget to appreciate Priyanka. He said he felt very comfortable while working with Priyanka. "Priyanka Chopra in Priyanka Chopada," he said, " very cooperative and hardworking. "He said Bollywood was not new for him, but he linked it with the identity of Nepalis. He said many asked him why he quit the big Bollywood and confined himself to a narrow corner. 

"Then I had told them that first I wanted the identity of Nepali film industry, only then come Bollywood, Hollywood." He said, adding, "I am really demanding. I feel I can do anything if I think to do so. I had a dream to receive Oscars by wearing Daura Suruwal. "He also shared an incident he faced during the shooting of Chino.

"I broke my finger in an action scene of Chino. Action director Yubaraj Lama took me hospital and I had a bandage on the broken finger. But I used to remove the bandage in the day time stating that the finger was cured and attended the shooting. I used to put on the bandage in the evening. I was doing all this because I wanted to complete the shooting at the earliest possible.

I had received information from Mumbai that I had fathered a son. But still I could see my son only 43 days after he was born," he said. He also turned sentimental while telling about his family life and shifted the issue to his latest Bollywood film. "I am here but not to promote Mary Kom. What I am today is because of Nepali film, this film industry is Pashupatinath for me, I worship it," he said.

He also shared a bitter experience of the promotional campaign of Mary Kom. "A few weeks ago, only actress Priyanka and director Omung appeared in the 'Comedy Nights with Kapil' of the Colors Television.To make the programme more attractive, Kapil forwarded a proposal that me and the actor doing the role of husband of Priyanka should enter the hall from the audience gate, not from the gate of the stage.

I outright rejected it because I thought that could not be a respect for me and Nepali film industry. I boycotted the show. "In the felicitation programme christened as "Happiness …Success" and organized jointly by Mouri Entertainment, NEFTA, Shree Balaji Films and Creative Groups, his contemporary and juniors had spoken one sentence each about the actor.

Actress Karishma said," I always see him like a child, always polite and he loves me all the time." Actress Gauri Malla called him a good friend and said, "I love you, Sunil. "Yubaraj Lama repeated his dialogue of Chino and said," He is Rate Kahinla of not only Nepal but also of India, I like this. Uddhav Poudel said, "He is himself a cinema, he has everything required by cinema."

CEO of Nepal Tourism Board Subash Niraula called him 'Brand ambassador of Nepal for the entire world. "At the end, Rajendra Salav summarized the views of all, "He is a good man. "The smiling actor finally joked," "Yes, I am a child. If I shaved this grey beard, I will really look young like Karishma."Courtesy: Phoolman Bal, the Kantipur daily

Courtesy: Phoolman Bal, the Kantipur daily