February 17, 2026 
Kathmandu — Director Laxman Poudyal, best known for his work on the popular reality show The Voice of Nepal, has begun the shooting of his debut feature film Bhatbhate in Janakpur.
The film, which blends a romantic storyline with strong social themes, started production on Sunday on the auspicious occasion of Mahashivaratri. The shooting will take place across several urban locations of Janakpur, as well as in surrounding areas including Bagada and Loharpatti.
The lead cast features Anjana Baraili, Sabin Karki of Cartoonz Crew, along with Rabindra Jha and Pramod Agrahari.
The story is written by renowned Nepali author Nayanraj Pandey, while the screenplay has been penned by director Poudyal himself. Pandey is also the author of the acclaimed novels Lu and Ular.
Explaining the film’s central idea, Poudyal said that a motorcycle represents the dreams and emotional attachment of many Nepali youths. In the Tarai region, a motorcycle is commonly referred to as “Bhatbhate” and is also widely associated with dowry practices. The film’s narrative has been developed by weaving together these social realities and personal emotions.
The music of the film will be composed by Khem Century, Pramod Kharel, Prashant Siwakoti, and Karanraj Karki.
Cinematography is handled by Arjun Tiwari.
The film is being produced by businessmen Suresh Karki and Sadichha Acharya. The production budget is estimated at NPR 30–40 million.
According to the production team, shooting is scheduled to continue until Falgun 18. Filming will then pause for one week due to the elections and is set to resume from Falgun 26.
