Born in 1964 in Tansen, Hamal has been a youth icon to many. Since his first film Yug Dekhi Yug Samma in 1994, he has remained the first choice of filmmakers and the audience as well. “Celebrating my birthday with a sense of having achieved success to some extent is a good feeling. I feel lucky that people love me so much,” he says. His humility remains legendary, despite having acted in more than 200 films.
Hamal has been given the title of Mahanayak by the industry and his fans. He is happy about the respect given by the people but doesn’t take it too seriously. “I feel my responsibility has increased with the title but I don’t feel proud about it,” he clarifies. He says that the smile he is able to bring to his fans’ faces is his greatest achievement till date. “Wherever I go, people are happy to see me, and I think that is the best thing about being an actor,” he says.
Hamal is also known to be an intellectual within the film industry as well, with a Master’s degree in English Literature from Punjab University. But that has been side-stepped for the moment, with his films becoming the biggest hits in Kollywood. From the young man who just stepped in front of the camera after a few modelling assignments, he is now the confident actor, choosing his roles with care, and ultimately, wanting to direct a film.
“I have always be en interested in filmmaking. I will definitely direct a film by 2011,” he says—for the first time answering the question that many have wanted to ask. Hamal wants to make a film that will be his own, but will work commercially as well. “I won’t promise that I will come out with something unbelievable but there will definitely be a new touch to it,” he says. And then of course, another burning topic about Rajesh Hamal these days is his marriage. But girls could get a bit disappointed, for he believes he is not yet mature enough to settle down. “I have a different outlook towards the concept of marriage.” There are no wedding bells on the horizon for him, yet he does not negate it completely. “I am not saying I will never get married,” thus giving hope to the thousands of fans.
Despite his age, Hamal is still very excited about his birthday. “My parents made me feel special about birthday celebrations ever since I was a child. I still experience the same way,” he says.
There is a fixed schedule for Hamal this birthday, like his other birthdays. No, he will not work. Instead, he will first go to the Khagendra Nawajivan Kendra in Jorpati to meet his sister, Maina. “She celebrates my birthday along with her friends.” Then, he will meet Shova, his other sister, who celebrates in the traditional Newari style. “The final celebrations includes my family and close friends.” He adds that the celebration won’t be a grand bash, but instead is a time that he devotes to people whom he cannot meet throughout the year because of his busy schedule.
“I don’t work on this day. This is a day for me and my family,” he says. Hamal is very attached to sisters Maina and Shova, whom he meets only on his birthday apart from Bhaitika. “If I work on this day, it will be unfair to them and my family as well.”
Hamal thanks his fans for wishing him a better life and career. “My fans are my ultimate support. If they were not there, this success would not be possible.” He says he will continue working in the film industry as long as he can—if not as an actor, then with other aspects of filmmaking.
Happy Birthday Rajesh!
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