Terria Magar Debuts as Actress in Nepali Film 'Mitju'

Kathmandu. Terria Magar is a Nepali girl who introduced Nepali dance skills to the world stage by winning the historic titles of Indian reality shows 'Dance India Dance (DID) Little Masters Season-3' in 2014 and 'Jhalak Dikhla Ja Season-9' in 2017. Having already showcased her acting prowess in some Indian web series, she is now debuting on the Nepali silver screen as an actress. 

She is set to captivate Nepali audiences through the film 'Mitju', scheduled for release on Jestha 8. Terria, who was impressed by the strong storyline and her role, got the opportunity to share the screen with two stalwarts of the Nepali film industry, Dayahang Rai and Saugat Malla, in her debut film. A snippet from an interview with the new actress Terria, who felt a mix of nervousness and excitement working with veteran actors:

You always appeared confident on the dance stage, are you more excited or nervous about your film debut? 

When I dance, I always feel like I'm in my element, but film is a new world for me. Right now, I have both excitement and a little nervousness. The excitement comes from the hard work the team put into the script reading and shooting, which will now be visible on screen. I am nervous about my character.

I wonder how the audience will receive my acting. I'm worried about how much they will connect with the character 'Ujeli' that I've portrayed. I have fear in my heart. This is a big challenge for me.

How did the idea of venturing into acting come about?

I was thinking of getting more serious about acting. Coincidentally, at that time, the offer for 'Mitju' came. Actually, I met the film's director Anil Budha Magar dai at a studio in Kathmandu. At that time, I had gone to Manoj Thapa dai's studio just to sing. When I spoke with Anil dai, I liked his vision. Later, he gave me the script along with the film offer. When I read the script, I felt I had to be a part of this story. That's when I dived into acting.

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What kind of character is 'Ujeli' and how much preparation did it require?

'Ujeli' is a typical village girl. Her life is full of struggles and experiences. While the story might sound a bit sad, Ujeli is a very strong and dignified character. She valued her existence and dignity in society. I prepared a lot for this role. Even before the film's workshop, I spoke with a sister from Rolpa over the phone to try and learn the local tone and accent.

For 10-12 days before shooting, I went to Rolpa with the shooting unit and observed the local life there. Spending time with the mothers and sisters there before shooting made it much easier for me to get into the character.

Weren't you scared working with established actors like Dayahang Rai and Saugat Malla?

I was very scared during the workshop. I was afraid I might falter while working with established actors like them. But once on set, Daya dai and Saugat dai made me feel very comfortable. Daya dai plays my husband in the film. He helped me a lot in understanding the depth of the scene and giving me confidence. They are so supportive that the experience was much easier than I had imagined. I learned from them how to present even the smallest things in a simple way.

You are a skilled dancer; the film has various elements, which did you find easier?

Dance has always been easy for me because I've spent so much time on it. But acting has taught me to be empathetic. Living someone else's life is a very different experience. While dance involves technique and music, acting involves emotions and character depth.

Dancing is done within a certain form, but in acting, you have to adapt yourself according to the situation. Therefore, I am currently learning acting and trying to understand it more deeply.

How do you feel now when you remember your DID journey?

I will never forget that moment. We were preparing to go to Mumbai after giving the audition video for DID. One day, Mom casually said, 'Who knows, maybe my daughter will become the DID winner.' I was young then and felt like Mom was talking nonsense. But with Mom's belief and God's grace, I am here today. I feel I couldn't have reached that height without the love and support of Nepali audiences. DID and Jhalak Dikhla Ja are like dreams to me.

You are a winner of two Indian reality shows and have also worked in their series. Why didn't you try Bollywood?
 
It's not that I didn't try Bollywood; I even worked in series like 'Campus Beats' there. But while living in Mumbai, I really missed my country and its soil. The love for one's country is different once you cross the border.

I came to Nepal thinking I should use whatever I learned in my own country's projects. The satisfaction I get from working in my own country's film in my own language is something I probably wouldn't find elsewhere.

There are many dance reality shows in Nepal too, aren't there?

That's a very good thing. In our time, such platforms were fewer. Now, shows like 'Boogie Woogie' and 'Mero Dance Universe' are giving space to new talent. There is no shortage of talent in Nepal; they just need good exposure. I myself got the opportunity to host such a show, which allowed me to see the hard work of dancers up close. Such shows have changed the perspective of how dance is viewed.

Will you now leave dancing and focus solely on acting?

Dance is my identity; I will never leave it. But now I also want to establish myself as a good actress. My dream is to bring the hidden stories and characters that exist in society to the screen.

Acting has taught me to see the world from a different perspective. I want people to recognize me as Terria Magar, a good actor as well. I want to learn more and play different kinds of roles.

What kind of film is 'Mitju'? 

'Mitju' is a social drama. It's a story that Kathmandu hasn't seen but that some region of Nepal is experiencing. It's a story of relationships, societal pressure, and a woman's courage. We have all worked very hard. 

Photo/Video: Manoj Khadka/RatoPati