Filmmaker Recalls Deep Bond with Late Actor Sunil Thapa: 'He Left a Void That Can Never Be Filled'

Yesterday (Saturday) began with the shocking news of a great tragedy. When I woke up, my phone was ringing. It was my brother, Royal Bhimsen, who delivered the news of Sunil (Sunil Thapa)'s passing. I couldn't believe it. Then Krishna Mall called. He repeated the same thing. For a moment, I felt like the entire world had stopped. I couldn't accept it. Even now, I keep wondering if this is real, that Sunil is truly gone. Am I dreaming some terrible nightmare?

Just the evening before (Friday), Krishna Mall and I had a video chat with Sunil. How can one compose themselves after hearing the news that the person who was laughing and talking with us is gone by morning? As soon as I received the news of Sunil's death from two different people, I jumped out of bed. The news affected my wife, Bharti, even more severely than me. Bharti and Sunil's wife, Rajani, were extremely close friends. Without even washing our faces, we rushed to the hospital. When we arrived, many friends and relatives had already gathered. Everyone's faces were grim, and many had teary eyes. I sat there in a daze.

Until then, I kept thinking that Sunil would suddenly jump up and say, as always, 'Hey, what is it? I am alive!' But who can defy the laws of nature?

Our friendship is not recent; it dates back to 1982-83. I first met Sunil in Mumbai during the recording of the film 'Mashaal'. At that time, Sunil was very busy and famous in Bollywood, starring in many Hindi films. After that, we started meeting regularly.

I was preparing to make the film 'Chino'. I offered roles to many veteran actors, but nothing was finalized. Since Sunil was in Mumbai, I didn't expect him to come, so I first spoke with local actors. When I proposed that Sunil act in my film 'Chino', he didn't refuse even for a single word. He didn't even ask, 'What is my role or how much will you pay me?' He just said, 'Tulsi Dai, since you have called, I will come, Chalo aata hoon.' Leaving the great glamour and height of Bollywood to work in a Nepali film was a symbol of his immense love for Nepal.

'Chino' not only gave Sunil and me a new height but also gave the Nepali film industry a vibrant character: 'Rate Kaila'. He was forever known by this character's name. He brought popularity and respect to the villain role, almost equal to that of a hero. After that, villains in the film industry started getting discussed like heroes.

The character of 'Rate Kaila' in the film was inspired by a real criminal from my own village, whom I wanted to portray on screen. Sunil embodied that character so perfectly that today many people might not remember who the heroes of 'Chino' were, but they remember his character's name. Even now, the mention of 'Rate Kaila' sends a shiver down people's spines.

I still remember that while shooting for 'Chino', the news of his son's birth arrived. He was overjoyed. He asked me, 'Dai, what should we name the son?' After thinking for a while, I suggested, 'There is a name I like, Anmol.' He liked the name so much that he immediately named his son Anmol. Later, when his daughter was born, I also suggested her name. Our relationship was not just that of a director and an actor; we were a family. The bond between our families was so deep that we shared more personal joys and sorrows than professional matters.

Recently, I worked with Sunil in the film 'Pahad'. A while ago, when I went to Mumbai, we had planned to meet when I called him. We had just finished the dubbing work before that. I returned from Mumbai three days ago. The desire to meet remains unfulfilled.

Sunil was not only an extremely good actor but also so honest towards his work that he never had the habit of looking at the clock, wondering when his shot would end or when he could go home, unlike some new actors today. He would stay on set even during other actors' shots and encourage them by saying 'Good shot' when things went well. That simplicity and humility were his greatest assets. No matter how much of a 'fierce villain' he appeared on screen, in real life, he was like a small child. He would get emotional and cry over small things. His heart was tender.

He had his own taste in food. He would eat whatever he liked, especially non-vegetarian food. Sometimes we would sit, enjoy ourselves, and have one or two pegs, but he never drank to the point of intoxication. He always maintained a limit. His only bad habit was smoking. He smoked heavily. He had quit for about six months in between but couldn't manage and started again. He used to tell me, 'Tulsi Dai, I am half of what I used to be; I have reduced it a lot now.' But perhaps that very smoking became the enemy of his health?

His dream was to play a very challenging role in films. He would tell me, 'I am not getting truly challenging roles, man. Think of a role that requires a lot of effort, something that no one else can do, I want to try that.' No matter how many roles he played or how famous he became, Sunil harbored a yearning for one more significant role.

If I have to say it today, the Nepali film industry has lost a star whose place can never be taken by anyone else. The void created when stalwarts like Chetan Karki Dai and Prakash Thapa Dai passed away has deepened with Sunil's farewell today. Many villains have come and will come, but there will hardly be another villain like Sunil Thapa who possessed such depth and could reside in people's hearts. Through his acting, he has left a significant mark not only on Nepali cinema but also on Indian films.

Today, Sunil is not physically among us, but his films, the roar of that 'Rate Kaila', and his simple nature will always remain alive in our memories. My generation will always respect him, and I wish that the upcoming generation of artists also learns much from Sunil Thapa. They should learn simplicity, dedication to acting, and the culture of respecting others from him.

Sunil Bhai, you left quietly, deceiving us all. There is still a faint hope in a corner of my heart that one day you might suddenly wake up and call out 'Tulsi Dai' again. Your absence will always be felt deeply in this industry and in my personal life. Wherever you are, rest in peace. Farewell, my dear brother.

(Based on an interview conducted by Ratopati correspondent Kuber Giri with veteran film director and actor Ghimire)