Pradeep Khadka

Pradeep Khadka is one of the most celebrated Nepalese cinema stars, best known for his versatile career as an actor, model, scriptwriter, and director. He is generally referred to as one of the highest-paid and top Nepali stars.

Early Life and Education:
Pradeep Khadka was born and brought up in Nepal. He had interest in performing arts and performance from an early age, although initially, he opted to study business management.

Having passed his School Leaving Certificate (SLC), a milestone degree in Nepal’s academic calendar, Pradeep studied at Prasadi Academy, a prestige school among Nepal’s schools that churns out highly performing scholars upon graduation. Pradeep opted to take his Higher Secondary Education (10+2) in Management.

After intermediate education, he furthered his studies by acquiring a Master’s Degree in Business Administration (MBA). His business study later proved to be useful to him throughout his career, particularly when he entered the field of filmmaking and production.

Career Start ups and Triumph
Pradeep began his professional career in the film industry with the 2015 movie Escape, where he not only played a role but contributed as well from the side lines. The movie did not quite become a box office success, and this early on caused issues for his career as an actor. But he did not give up hope and soon was offered a job in Prem Geet (2016), a romantic drama which was a huge success. This film changed his life and made him one of the leading actors of the Nepalese film industry. His on-screen presence and acting skills impressed the audience, and he became a household name.

Some of his hit films and accomplishments:
After Prem Geet, Pradeep continued to find more success with some of his popular movies:

Prem Geet 2 (2017) – Following the massive success of Prem Geet (2016), the sequel, Prem Geet 2, was one of the most anticipated movies in Nepal. While the first movie had a tragic ending, this film introduced a fresh storyline with a new female lead. It explored themes of love, sacrifice, and cultural differences, set against the backdrop of scenic landscapes, including foreign locations like Thailand.

Lily Bily (2018) – Lily Bily was a modern romantic comedy that revolved around young love and the complexities of relationships. The movie followed the journey of a young couple navigating through misunderstandings, aspirations, and personal growth.

Prakash (2022) – Prakash was a critically acclaimed film focusing on rural Nepal’s hardships and the dreams of a young man (played by Pradeep Khadka) aspiring to become a teacher. Set in the remote villages, the movie highlighted themes of poverty, education, and social struggles.

Prem Geet 3 (2022) – Prem Geet 3 was Nepal’s first Indo-Nepali bilingual film, with dialogues in both Nepali and Hindi, aiming to reach an international audience. The film was set in a fictional kingdom, blending romance, action, and drama. It followed the story of Prem, a warrior prince, and his love story amidst war and political conspiracies.

Pujar Sarki (2024) –Pujar Sarki is a socially-driven movie that addresses deep-rooted caste discrimination and societal issues in Nepal. The story revolves around the life struggles of Pujar Sarki, representing the marginalized Dalit community and their fight for equality, dignity, and justice.

Brand Endorsements:

Due to his popularity and good image, Pradeep Khadka was one of the most in-demand brand ambassadors. He has been a brand ambassador for various leading brands in Nepal, including:

Pepsi
TVS Motor Company
Vivo
From these endorsements alone, it’s easy to spot that he’s also influential outside of the industry of film and a household name in commercials and brand endorsements.
Pradeep is admired for his hard work, humility, and commitment towards his career. His rags-to-riches success story from being a struggler in debut to becoming an established top-of-his-league actor in Nepal is an example for many upcoming actors. His background in business administration has also benefited him by launching his career as a film actor with a business mind and vision, and therefore he is a successful actor as well as a filmmaker.