Movie Aktor: Take One suspends screening amid legal dispute

KATHMANDU: The producers of the Nepali film Aktor: Take One have announced the suspension of the film’s screening.

Producers Thaman Kumar Bhandari and Moti Karki filed a lawsuit against the film’s producer, Samrat Thapa, and his company, Diaspora Entertainment, for ‘unjust enrichment’ at the Kathmandu District Court.

In a press release issued on Friday, the producers stated that the screening would be halted until the case is resolved.

The release mentioned that the suspension of the screening, just a day before the planned release on Jan 28, was a result of a court order.

The producers claimed that this unexpected order caused significant inconvenience to viewers and accused Actor’s producers of attempting financial blackmail.

The statement read, “Approximately Rs 4 million worth of tickets had already been sold in Nepal through advance bookings, and tickets had been sold overseas as well. The sudden halt in screening has led to considerable financial losses, as well as emotional distress. In this difficult situation, we faced financial blackmail from the other party, who claimed that the film could proceed as agreed upon before the court reopened. We had no option but to accept this proposal due to our constraints.”

Despite agreeing under pressure, the producers have now filed a case against Diaspora Entertainment Pvt. Ltd. and its operator, Samrat Thapa, citing the incident as unjust.

They further announced the suspension of the film’s screening in Nepal starting Sunday, until the dispute is resolved. “Once the case is concluded, we are committed to resuming the film’s screening,” the statement added.

This incident highlights the importance of legal procedures in Nepal’s film industry. The producers also urged for a collaborative and understanding environment to avoid such problems in the future.

They expressed gratitude to all those who supported them during these tough times and thanked their audience for their love and encouragement.