Aanchal Sharma highlights gender differences in film direction experience

KATHMANDU: Actress Aanchal Sharma has shared her experience of working with female directors, saying she felt a greater sense of comfort and creative freedom compared to working with male directors.

Speaking at a press meet held last Friday, she responded to a question from Makalu Khabar about the differences she experienced while working with male and female directors.

Sharma said she had not previously worked with a female director and found the experience significantly different. She noted that while working with male directors, informal discussions or private conversations often required more caution due to social perceptions.

According to her, even simple interactions such as talking in private corners or approaching a room at late hours could feel restricted with male colleagues, as people tend to think differently about such situations.

In contrast, she shared that working with a female director made communication easier and more open. “With a female director, I could even knock on the door at 1 AM if needed,” she said, adding that this openness helped her better understand her character and deepen the creative process.

Sharma also emphasized that this kind of ease allows for stronger understanding of roles, as frequent discussion helps in exploring characters more deeply.

The actress is currently in the lead role for the upcoming film Ek Muthi Badal, which is set to release nationwide on Jestha 1.

She said there is no pressure on the film to necessarily become a box office hit, describing it instead as a “feeling-based” and “experience-driven” project. “There are two kinds of films—ones that run and ones that are meant to be felt. This is a film to be felt,” she said.

In the film, Sharma portrays a character representing many women in society. She highlighted ongoing challenges faced by women in expressing and achieving their dreams, stating that many are still restricted from even imagining their aspirations.

“There are still limitations on women’s dreams. For some, even dreaming is not allowed, let alone achieving them,” she said, adding that society often makes it difficult for women to claim their ambitions.

However, she also acknowledged her own privileged position, saying she has been able to achieve what she has imagined so far. “The sky is wide, just like our dreams. I have been able to fulfill what I planned because I had choices. In that sense, I am privileged,” she added.

Sharma has previously worked alongside actors Anmol KC and Paul Shah in several films and is now taking on a leading role with greater focus on performance-driven storytelling in Ek Muthi Badal.

-Tenzing Dolma Tamang