Postmortem to be done defore final rites of actor Sunil

KATHMANDU: The mortal remains of legendary Nepali film actor Sunil Thapa will undergo a postmortem examination before his final rites, following a request from his family to ascertain the exact cause of death.

Thapa passed away on Saturday morning after suffering a heart attack while undergoing treatment at Norvic International Hospital in Thapathali.

His family, who have been residing in Mumbai for a long time, arrived in Kathmandu at around 10 pm on Saturday night.

According to Mohan Niraula, Chair of the Nepal Film Artists Association, the decision to conduct a postmortem was taken in accordance with the family’s wishes.

He stated that the funeral proceedings would move forward only after the postmortem is completed on Sunday.

“Family members have arrived from Mumbai and have expressed their wish for a postmortem to be carried out,” Niraula said. “Only after the process is completed today will the final farewell take place.”

A towering figure in Nepali cinema, Sunil Thapa was instrumental in elevating negative roles to the stature and respect of leading characters.

He was widely known among audiences as ‘Rate Kainla’, a character that became iconic through the historic film Chino.

His portrayal of Rate Kainla established him as a formidable presence in both the Nepali and Indian film industries.

Over a remarkable acting career spanning nearly three decades, Thapa delivered powerful performances in more than 300 films, including Nepali and Bollywood productions.

The 70-year-old actor had been living alone in an apartment in Shankhamul, Kathmandu. His demise has left an irreparable void in Nepal’s art and film fraternity.

Preparations are underway to perform his final rites later today at Pashupati Aryaghat following the completion of the postmortem.