Keki Adhikari is a powerhouse of talent, having made a significant mark in the film industry. She is an actor who has fearlessly gone against the tide to break stereotypes. Keki started her film career in 2010. “There were days when I was working every single day with just three hours of sleep. Still, I would wake up fresh and be back on the set, ready to give my best” she says. Keki has been featured in more than a thousand music videos and some 25 films. “Besides a career in the movies, my father ensured that I earned an MBA degree. So, I was going to college in the morning and shooting during the day. However, I managed to top my batch while sharing the limelight with renowned artists,” she says looking back at the early days of her career. What stood her in good stead, we ask. She laughs, “I believe, it’s probably my excellent rote skill. While reading a script, I could memorise not only my dialogues but that of my co-star too”. So, what got her interested in cinema. She says, it is the films she watched growing up with her friends, and there were many of them. More notably, she mentions Kanyadan, Sano Sansar, Chandni, Judai, Mr India. “I am a huge fan of Sridevi. I have watched all her films,” she gushes. She recalls watching movies as a ritual; a treat in the way it was planned -one Nepali film a month in the cinema hall. “Every movie at the local cinema ended with snacking on streets,” she shares. Dancer. Front-bencher. Actor. What did she want from this mad caper of a joyride that is her life? “To enjoy my present” she pauses as if she is assuring herself. The frontbencher energy still remains. On set, she is always on time. She is reluctant to discuss her personal life in the media. She occupies the space between genres, refusing to be slotted into a particular category. “I want to do everything,” she declares. “But I am also beginning to realise that I cannot start decoding or intellectualising my acting process. At the end of the day, it is work. While it occupies a major part of my life, in movies, you are either part of hits or flops, that’s all. There is no room for getting a job promotion, so I need to find meaning elsewhere too.” She adds, “Acting as a craft is alive, it keeps changing and you need to evolve with it.” Talking about her next release, “Boksi Ko Ghar” of which she is also producer, Keki says, “The film will change filmmaking in Nepal. There is nothing like it.” A subject that is taboo, a woman’s life from the lens of a society that deems her a witch, Boksi Ko Ghar releases on April 26. Keki got into the role with deep intensity. She wants the story told, heard and felt.
Keki tells us more…
Tell us about the unconventional role you have played in “Boksi Ko Ghar”?
Boksi Ko Ghar is really a special project for me. The role I am playing for this film is of a witch, a ‘boksi’, something beyond my comfort zone. I have never had the opportunity before to play a role where there were so many layers to a woman’s emotions, her relationships and the society. This film is very powerful and I really had to work hard. It is not an ordinary or conventional role. In Nepali film industry, often only male leads get such strong characters to play.
What is the film based on?
Boksi Ko Ghar is actually based on a play that was shown at Mandala Theatre around 2015/16. Back then I was in the audience and the play really touched my heart and I thought this should go to bigger audiences and that was only possible through movies. Then I met the writer and director of the play, Sulakshan Bharati. He told me the incidents which led to the story and how they were actually based on true facts and incidents. He did collective research on such incidents for nearly six years and finally made a play out of it. Later, when we made the film in 2020, we made sure audiences could connect well with the character.
What is the social issue that the film is addressing?
Women being tortured to the point that women are deprived from their very basic rights, women’s place in the society, child marriage, lack of education and issues around the dignity and respect of women. You went bald for the film… tell us about that. The first clause the director had when I went to him was that I had to be bald if I want to be part of the flim, because the woman, the character represented goes through it. Women are forced to go bald, they are fed faeces, and are thrown out of the house. They go through immense humiliation torture. If I couldn’t even go bald for the role, I wouldn’t be able to relate to the character at an intrinsic level.
The amount of research that went into making the film…
We went into a lot of detail. For example, we wanted ‘pipal ko rukh’ (pipal tree) which is very symbolic in the film as it stands for boksi ko ghar. It took us three months to find the perfect tree and it was in Kavre. Also, my character had to climb trees so I used to go around the Kritipur jungle and blindfold myself and feel the tree. I did six months of workshop, we worked on body language and voices of the character.
How difficult is it to make female-oriented films in Nepal?
First thing, it’s not easy making a film in Nepal. Further, directors and producers are reluctant to make a female oriented movie. There isn’t even a good record of audiences supporting female oriented movies. It was a big challenge plus the genre we chose is risky. However, I wanted to take that risk. Boksi Ko Ghar is my first film as a producer. After giving effort and time for three years, I believe if the film is good, the audiences will support us. I hope the audience will see beyond the male and female centric characters and focus on the content.
Having being featured in more than a thousand music videos, tell us about that phase of Keki?
There used to be a time when I was the face of a majority of music videos on television. I miss being a teenager, dancing and goofing around. Those experiences have made me what I am today.
You have been in the industry for more than 15 years, tell us about the changes in the industry that you are proud of?
Being in the industry for 15 years, has been a roller coaster ride. In the initial years of my career, many actors were leaving the country. People in this fraternity weren’t proud of the industry. Although, many artists like me had other potential too, we chose to stay and be consistent and today, many people are keen to join the industry.
Any life lessons?
Over the years I have come to the conclusion that everything is very temporary, so just live for the moment. Follow your heart, it always tells you the right thing. Your beauty regime. Good products, good skincare, great smile and a positive day adds to your beauty. Your fitness regime. Light exercise, ten minutes of meditation, followed by yoga, eating healthy and just staying happy
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