Swastima Khadka is a well-known and talented Nepalese actress who recently appeared in the successful films Dimag Kharab and Pashupati Prasad 2: Bhasme Don. Debuted in the industry by taking a supporting role in the commercial success of Hostel Returns and has since progressed to work in more successful films and develop her acting skills. Now married to another popular Nepali actor and film director, Nischal Basnet, we will look at Swastima Khadka’s films, taking you on a journey from her debut film to her most recent success.
Dimag Kharab (2023)
Dimag Kharab, the only film on our list directed by Nischal Basnet, stars Swastima Khadka, Dayahang Rai, Khagendra Lamichhane, Arpan Thapa, and Bijay Baral. The film follows Indra (Khagendra Lamichhane) as he is rejected for work abroad due to missing documents, and to obtain the visa, he goes to meet the mayor despite numerous hardships. After all of his efforts, he finally meets the mayor with the assistance of his friend (Dayahang Rai) and assures him that he will get votes for the mayor to complete his task.
The film’s cast is full of talented actors and actresses who all give their all, yet Swastima Khadka shines with a lovely performance as Sachi, and Nischal Basnet’s direction reaches new heights. The film impresses audiences with a talented cast, excellent performances, and a captivating story, making it a must-see movie made with heart and soul that’s sure to entertain Nepali moviegoers.
Box Office Verdict: Hit
Dimag Kharab Movie Rating: ⭐⭐⭐ / 5
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Pashupati Prasad 2: Bhasme Don (2023)
Dipendra K. Khanal’s Pashupati Prasad 2: Bhasme Don, a sequel to the film Pashupati Prasad that continues the story of its previous sequel, which stars Swastima Khadka, Bipin Karki, Saugat Malla, and Prakash Ghimire. The film follows the story of Bhasme Don/Bhuwan (Bipin Karki), who, seven years after the incident in its prequel, has abandoned all illegal activities to become a nice person, but this comes with a difficult and challenging task as he works hard to discover his true identity and find his parents’ information.
Swastima Khadka impresses as a woman dressed as the Durga goddess, displaying incredible grace and emotion, especially in a touching moment when she shares her past. Saugat Malla and Bipin Karki both give excellent performances, with Bipin standing out for his character’s transformation. The film, which features intriguing characters and a compelling story, is a must-see, transporting viewers on a heartwarming journey with a touch of comedy.
Box Office Verdict: Hit
Pashupati Prasad 2 Movie Rating:⭐⭐⭐ / 5
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Chiso Manchhe (2022)
Next up is the social drama film Chiso Manchhe, directed by Dipendra K. Khanal and starring Swastima Khadka and Arpan Thapa in lead roles. The plot revolves around Puspa (Swastima Khadka), whose husband died in Qatar while working abroad, and she travels to Kathmandu with her father to retrieve his body, during which she meets Ram (Arpan Thapa), a driver who is taking them to their hometown from rural Nepal.
Swastima Khadka delivers another standout performance in this rural drama, demonstrating her versatility through authentic accents. The film, a pure drama, delves into social issues raised by working abroad during the COVID-19 pandemic, providing Nepalese audiences with an engaging story. The film is enjoyable, blending emotional depth with occasional comedic moments. It has an original story, good cinematography, and strong performances from the cast.
Box Office Verdict: Average
Chiso Manchhe Movie Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐/ 5
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Chapali Height 3 (2021)
Chapali Height 3, the third installment in the Chapali Height series, is a crime suspense film directed by Nikes Khadka and starring Swastima Khadka, Amir Gautam, Mahesh Tripathi, Supuspa Bhatt, and Pratik Man Shrestha. The film revolves around the murder of a businessman’s son, with Shraddha (Swastima Khadka) as the main suspect. The murder case is assigned to fierce and strict police inspector Prallab, who attempts to solve the crime by questioning the prime suspect who introduces us to new characters and secrets.
Swastima Khadka’s performance in the mystery film lacks the enigmatic quality required for her role. Despite the abundance of twists, some scenes seem disconnected. Nonetheless, the film has a compelling plot, strong camera work, cinematography, and a distinct take on the suspense thriller genre in Nepali cinema. Overall, it is a fun watch.
Box Office Verdict: Flop
Chapali Height 3 Movie Rating: ⭐⭐ / 5
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Ghamad Shere (2019)
The romantic drama film Ghamad Shere, directed by Hem Raj BC stars real-life couple Swastima Khadka and Nischal Basnet. The film tells the story of Shere (Nischal Basnet), who has returned from abroad with enough money to do something in his home village, such as buy land and begin farming. However, problems arise in his life as his land is wiped out by a flood, and his wife abandons him for her lover while he fights for his land with the help of his sister-in-law (Swastima Khadka).
Swastima Khadka and Nischal Basnet, a real-life couple, give a wonderful and romantic performance on screen. Swastima’s improved dialogue delivery and realistic portrayal of emotions, combined with Nischal Basnet’s acting, provide depth to their roles. The scriptwriter receives credit for creating an original and organic narrative that does not rely on forced emotions, comedy, or exaggerated action scenes. Despite an unsuccessful box office run, the film is worth a watch for its touching story, good comedy, romantic scenes, and satisfying ending.
Box Office Verdict: Flop
Ghamad Shere Movie Rating: ⭐⭐⭐ / 5
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Hajar Juni Samma (2019)
Hajar Juni Samma, a romantic drama film, directed by Bikash Raj Acharya starring Swastima Khadka, Aryan Sigdel, Priyanka Karki, Sanchita Luitel, Salon Basnet, Shivahari Paudel and Anubhav Regmi. The film tells the story of Siddhanth, a retired singer, and his quest to find a true love or match for his adopted son.
Swastima Khadka’s performance falls short of expectations, particularly given her standout role in “Bulbul.” The film, a watchable romantic drama, is lacking in a compelling backstory and could benefit from better scriptwriting and cinematography.
Box Office Verdict: Flop
Hajar Juni Samma Movie Rating: ⭐⭐⭐ / 5
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Bulbul (2019)
The list continues with another drama film, Bulbul, directed by Binod Poudel and starring Swastima Khadka and Muku Bhusal. The film follows the story of a young mother who works as a tempo driver in Kathmandu while caring for her paralyzed father while her husband is abroad. As the story progresses, she falls in love with a man who follows her and tries to persuade her to fall in love with him.
Swastima Khadka shines in the challenging role of Ranakala in the film “Bulbul,” demonstrating her genuine acting abilities and giving one of her best performances yet. Her portrayal of the character’s hardships is both refreshing and captivating. The film effectively addresses social issues that arise from working abroad while avoiding unnecessary drama. Bulbul is a must-see for its well-executed plot twist, solid writing, melodious music, and heartfelt story.
Box Office Verdict: Average
Bulbul Movie Rating: ⭐⭐⭐ / 5
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Nai Nabhannu La 5 (2018)
Nai Nabhannu La is a romantic drama film, the fifth installment in the Nai Nabhannu La series, directed by Bikash Raj Acharya, and stars Swastima Khadka, Priyanka Karki, Niruta Singh, Dilip Rayamajhi, Keki Adhikari, Anubhav Regmi, and Sedrina Sharma. The film tells the story of Neer and Anjana, who were in love from a young age, but their love takes a tragic turn when Anjana dies at a young age, and many years later, Anjana’s twin sister, Ranjana, ends up loving Neer but he isn’t interested, but the story takes a turn with the spirit of the dead Anjana.
Swastima Khadka gives an adequate performance in the dual role of twin sisters in Nai Nabhannu La 5. Child actors Anubhav Regmi and Sedrina Sharma stand out, and the film’s cinematography, locations, music, and heartfelt story are all commendable. However, there is room for improvement in portraying emotions and identifying areas for scriptwriting development. Overall, the film is recommended to watch.
Box Office Verdict: Hit
Nai Nabhannu La 5 Movie Rating: ⭐⭐⭐/ 5
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Jai Bhole (2018)
The list continues with the romantic drama film Jai Bhole, directed by Ashok Sharma and starring Swastima Khadka, Khagendra Lamichhane, Saugat Malla, Buddhi Tamang, and Salon Basnet in lead roles. The plot revolves around Jai (Khagendra Lamichhane), who is in one-sided love with Nisha (Swastima Khadka) and tries to impress her, with the plot shifting to Jai’s friendship with Bhole (Saugat Malla), Nisha’s sworn brother.
Swastima Khadka, despite lacking dialogue as a lead, delivers a flawless and engaging performance whenever she appears on screen. The scriptwriting also falls short, with the plot struggling to keep the audience interested. Despite the trailer’s promise of a comedy element, the film lacks enough comedic scenes and jokes, making it a one-time watch.
Box Office Verdict: Average
Jai Bhole Movie Rating: ⭐⭐⭐ / 5
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Chakka Panja 2 (2017)
Chakka Panja 2, a sequel to the film Chakka Panja and the second film in the Chakka Panja series, is directed by Deepa Shree Niraula and stars Swastima Khadka, Deepak Raj Giri, Kedar Ghimire, Buddhi Tamang, Priyanka Karki, Swaroop Purush Dhakal, Jeetu Nepal, Aayushman Joshi, and Barsha Raut. Chakka Panja 2 is a comedic story about Prajwol and Aakansha’s lives, involving fake marriages, friendship, and the pursuit of dreams, with unexpected twists shaping their journey to Australia in search of a better life.
Swastima Khadka shines in her comedic role in “Chakka Panja 2,” demonstrating improved skills as an actress. The cast gives excellent performances, particularly Deepak Raj Giri, and the film is an enjoyable comedy with unexpected twists. While the storyline is similar to the prequel, and the screenplay could be improved, the film is still enjoyable, with good music and strong comedic scenes.
Box Office Verdict: Hit
Chakka Panja 2 Movie Rating: ⭐⭐⭐ / 5
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Love Love Love (2017)
Following the success of her debut film, Swastima made a leap in her career from supporting actress to lead actress in the film Love Love Love, a romantic social drama with elements of comedy and thriller directed by Dipendra K. Khanal and starring Suraj Pandey and Swastima in lead roles. The film tells the story of Suraj, who falls in love with his childhood friend Samriddhi (Swastima Khadka), but realizes she has no feelings for him, so he takes her on a tour in the hopes of winning her over.
Swastima Khadka and Suraj Pandey give decent performances in the romantic film, but their dialogue delivery and emotional portrayal could be improved. The film has good cinematography and aesthetics, but it struggles to engage the audience, indicating that scriptwriting, presentation, and character development could be improved.
Box Office Verdict: Flop
Love Love Love Movie Rating: ⭐⭐ / 5
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Hostel Returns (2013)
Last but not least, the teenage romantic film Hostel Return, a sequel to the film Hostel, directed by Suraj Bhusal and starring Swastima Khadka, Sushil Shrestha, Sashi Shrestha, Najir Hussain, Sushil Sitaula, and Abhaya Baral. The film follows the hostel life of civil engineering students, primarily two best friends, Rameshwor and Pratap, who fall in love with a girl named Seema but fake her love to pass her college exam.
Swastima Khadka impresses in her debut as Alina, demonstrating promise with room for growth. Najir Hussain, who plays Rameshwor, steals the show with his epic comedy. While Hostel Return improves in terms of comedy and plot, lead performances could benefit from better dialogue delivery and character portrayal. Nonetheless, the film is worth seeing for its strong presentation, new cast members, and fresh story, which contributed to its box office success.
Box Office Verdict: Hit
Hostel Returns Movie Rating: ⭐⭐⭐ / 5