October 5, 2026 
Kathmandu: Actor Anoop Bikram Shahi has described Tunnel 26 as the first zombie film in the history of the Nepali film industry.
Speaking about the film, Shahi said Tunnel 26 explores a subject rarely seen in Nepali cinema. Combining horror, mystery, suspense and thriller elements, he believes the film will offer a different experience, particularly for audiences who enjoy these genres.
“We have taken a completely different story in this film. It is a zombie film, and looking at the history of the Nepali film industry, this is the first time we have attempted to make a film in the zombie genre. So, I believe audiences who enjoy horror, mystery, suspense and thriller films will definitely like it,” he said.
A collaborative production between Nepal, Bhutan and India, Tunnel 26 is scheduled to be released on October 9 (Asoj 23).
Although the film was made through a collaboration between the three countries, Shahi clarified that it should not be considered a Bhutanese film. According to him, the film will be released in Nepali in Nepal, in the Bhutanese language in Bhutan, and dubbed according to the respective language in India.
“This is a collaborative film between India, Bhutan and Nepal. When it is released in Nepal, it will definitely be in Nepali, while in Bhutan it will be released in the Bhutanese language,” he said. “So, from the perspective of its release in Nepal, it is our own Nepali film.”
Shahi also argued that dubbing a film into different languages does not change its identity.
“We have watched many Indian films dubbed in Nepali. But changing the language does not mean that the film ceases to be an Indian film,” he said.
Recalling the shooting experience, Shahi said filming inside a real tunnel was challenging and physically demanding. However, the positive response to the teaser and the growing excitement among audiences have made him forget the difficulties he faced during production.
The actor added that the teaser of Tunnel 26 has received an encouraging response, further increasing curiosity among audiences about the film.
