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Around six months ago, actor Bijay Baral received a call with a film proposal. For an actor, getting a call with an offer is a routine matter, but that day’s call was somewhat different.
For Bijay , who was busy with supporting roles, this proposal was unique. It wasn’t for a supporting role but for the lead character in a film titled “Purna Bahadurko Sarangi.”
Initially, this proposal left Bijay in a dilemma. For about two weeks, he couldn’t make a concrete decision. He questioned himself as an actor. Reflecting on that time, he said, “The day I got the call, I was confused. Usually, I am only considered for side roles, so getting such an offer was rare. I didn’t decide for two weeks,” he recalled. “However, the proposal gave me a new kind of energy. It made me think that with my experience, I could now take on such roles. At that moment, I was filled with an odd mix of happiness and confusion.”
While sharing this, he reminisced about his school days when he dreamt of becoming an actor and how that dream brought him to Kathmandu. According to Vijay, when he first came to Kathmandu, he had illusions about acting. He believed he would surpass the popular comedians of that time and establish himself as a strong performer.
Hailing from Lalbandi, Sarlahi, Vijay used to mimic the voices of famous politicians during his school years. In the eighth grade, he showcased his talent publicly for the first time. At that time, he not only imitated voices but also performed a comic dance to the popular song “Dhoka Khol Na Posteki Aama” by the well-known comedian Narad Khatiwada. After watching his mimicry and comedic dance, his teachers and friends praised him greatly.
“My friends cheered me on, saying I did well. That’s when I thought of it as acting because, in the village, that’s what acting was considered. The appreciation I received increased my attraction to acting and boosted my confidence,” he recounted. However, when he turned to theater, he realized how limited his initial perception of acting was. He understood that acting was not a small pond but an ocean.
“When I shifted from caricatures to the stage, I saw that the thought process and approach to acting were completely different. I then aimed to become a better actor,” he explained with a serious tone. He describes his awakening as, “Previously, I thought everything was simple and that no one could do it as well as I could. But once I delved deeper into acting, I realized it was a spiritual experience, requiring deeper thought and depth.”
He credits a 45-day acting workshop in India as the turning point in his career. There, he was trained by renowned theater director M.K. Raina. “I was taking acting too lightly before. There, they were teaching it from every perspective, including society’s viewpoint. Only then did I understand acting in its true form,” he shared.
During this time, his dream of becoming an actor wavered. His father, who worked at a bank, never pressured him into joining the profession, although his grandfather encouraged him to follow in his father’s footsteps for a stable life. His grandfather would often urge, “Get a job, like your father did. Being the eldest grandson, it’s your duty.”
Bijay continued his management studies while simultaneously pursuing his passion for theater. Even after performing in numerous plays, his father was unaware of his son’s involvement in acting. He made his film debut with “Chhadke”, but his father only realized Bijay was an actor after “Kabaddi.” His father was proud of his work.
Since then, Vijay has never had to ask for financial support from home. “My father didn’t know I was into acting for a long time. He didn’t even know when I acted in my first film, ‘Chhadke.’ But after ‘Kabaddi,’ he found out,” Bijay said.
Following “Kabaddi,” he has appeared in dozens of films, including its sequels, becoming a familiar face in the Nepali film industry. Most of his roles have been supporting ones, with his character “B.K.” in the “Kabaddi” series bringing him significant recognition. However, the film “Purna Bahadurko Sarangi” has offered him the chance to showcase his ability to handle serious roles as well.
In this film, he plays the character of a single father. Returning to the topic of “Purna Bahadurko Sarangi,” Bijay mentioned that supporting roles are comfortable for him, but this one was different. As the lead role, the entire film’s weight was on his shoulders, requiring immense effort on his part.
To embody the character of “Purna Bahadur Gandharva,” Bijay prepared for about 10 days, learning the mannerisms, facial expressions, and speaking style of a Gandharva. He also practiced playing the sarangi (a traditional string instrument) to make his performance as authentic as possible.
“For actors like us, who are usually second choices, getting a role of this magnitude is rare. I wanted to make it as excellent as possible, so I worked hard to convincingly portray myself as a Gandharva on screen. The response from the posters and trailer has been very positive,” he said.
Today, Bijay is not just a son; he is also a father. He has incorporated his experiences of fatherhood into his performance. He believes personal experiences significantly enhance an actor’s portrayal. “It helps understand the character’s mindset and emotions,” he explained.
Reflecting on being both a son and a father, he shared, “Now I understand my father’s feelings. There was a time when my father was my hero. He still is. Sometimes, when he said something, it felt like pressure, but now I see it differently. My son now calls me ‘Baba’ with such joy. For him, I am the hero.”
He further elaborated, “Fathers don’t express their emotions openly, but they do have feelings. Fathers dream for their sons, and sons should dream for their fathers too.”
Today, Bijay is determined to fulfill his father’s dreams, especially his love for travel. He has come to understand that fathers rarely voice their desires. “When I asked him about his wishes, he replied, ‘Did we ever ask you as a child?’” Bijay recounted.
“Fathers secretly hope their children will give them something without asking. They never say they are unhappy, but they still have expectations,” Bijay explained. “Understanding this can make a big difference. Otherwise, they silently endure their sadness.”
He believes that his film will inspire sons to reconnect with their fathers. “Fathers will recall their memories, and sons might realize they need to talk to their fathers more. For those whose fathers are no longer alive, the film may bring sadness,” he shared. “It will encourage people to spend at least five minutes with their fathers. It will bring openness to father-son relationships.”
Directed by Saroj Poudel, the film was released on Kartik 15 (Laxmi Puja). As an actor, Bijay is optimistic about the film, hoping that it will establish him as a serious actor through “Purna Bahadurko Sarangi.”
(Translated as it is in RSS except Headline)
