March 28, 2026 
Kathmandu — As Nepal undergoes major political changes with the formation of a new government, the Nepali film industry appears to be moving at a slower pace. With Balen Shah appointed as the 43rd Prime Minister, followed by cabinet reshuffles, intense political debates, and heightened social-media buzz, public attention has largely shifted toward politics. This shift has had a noticeable impact on the film sector in recent weeks.
According to film entrepreneurs, audience turnout in movie theaters has remained low despite the release of multiple Nepali films over the past two weeks. For instance, some recently released Nepali films failed to achieve expected box-office numbers during their opening week. Theater operators reported that last Friday’s release Hami Teen Bhai also struggled to attract audiences as anticipated.
The situation is not significantly different for foreign films. Several Hollywood and South Indian films currently screening in Nepali theaters—despite featuring big star casts—have not performed as expected, distributors say. However, the recently released Hindi film Dhurandhar has managed to draw relatively better audience numbers compared to others.
Industry experts note, “When the political environment becomes unstable, the entertainment sector is directly affected, as people’s priorities shift toward ongoing national developments.”
Nevertheless, with the new government under Balen Shah showing signs of bringing political stability, stakeholders in the entertainment industry are hopeful for a revival. Theater operators believe that if the political climate remains calm, upcoming releases in Baisakh–Jestha could see stronger audience turnout.
Films scheduled for release in the coming month include Ram Naam Satya, I Am Jit Bahadur, Paralko Aago, Yanimaya: Rhythm of Love, among others. Producers say that with stability returning and daily life normalizing, these films are expected to perform well at the box office.
All eyes are now on how the new government will address the needs of the film industry. For now, however, the sector remains in a wait-and-watch stage, anticipating political stability to revive momentum.
