Priyanka Karki

Priyanka Karki (Nepali: प्रियंका कार्की; pronounced [priyanka Karki]; born 27 February 1987) is a Nepalese actress, director and producer. The winner of the Miss Teen Nepal pageant, Karki is Nepal's highest-paid actress and has received numerous accolades, including two National Film Awards and three Kamana Film Awards.^[1] In 2023, the Government of Nepal honoured her with the Chamber of Commerce for her contribution to the Nepali film industry.^[2]

Karki accepted offers to join the Nepali film industry following her pageant wins. She made her acting debut with the film 3 Lovers (2012), followed by the box-office hits Vigilante 3D (2013), Jholay (2014), Nai Nabhannu La 2 (2014), Punte Parade (2014), Mero Best Friend (2014), all these films went on to establish her career. She received renewed recognition for her performance in the romantic film Suntali (2014), which earned her various of accolades and nomination including National Film Awards and NEFTA Film Awards. The film was also selected at the 19th Busan International Film Festival.^[3]

Karki gained further praise for portraying a range of characters in the films Sadanga (2015), Nai na Bhannu la 3 (2015), Woda Number 6 (2015), Kabaddi Kabaddi (2015), Nai Nabhannu La 4 (2016), Chhakka Panja (2016), Purano Dunga (2016), Radhe (2017), Chhakka Panja 2 (2017), Fateko Jutta (2017), most of which were box office successes. Apart from her acting career, Karki has worked as a judge in various of shows. She is also a popular celebrity endorser for various brands and products, has participated in stage shows, and is active in humanitarian work. On Instagram, Karki is one of the most-followed Nepalese woman.^[4]

Karki was born in 1987 in Kathmandu, Nepal. Her parents are Bhupendra Karki and Raksha Malhotra.^[5] She did her schooling from Rato Bangla school and pursued her bachelor degree at the University of North Alabama, she majored in Film and Digital Media Production with a minor in Theatre and graduated summa cum laude.^[6] Before entering into the Nepalese film industry, she worked as VJ for Kantipur Television hosting the show Celluloid and The Glam Factor. She then acted in the comedy TV serial Ghar Beti Ba.

Karki was interested in glamour from her early childhood. She participated in a modeling competition. In 2005, she was crowned as Miss Teen Nepal, Nepal's second largest beauty pageant.^[7]

After winning Miss Teen Nepal, Karki was cast as the female lead in romantic film "3 Lovers" (2012), where she played a double role. The film was applauded by critics. For her performance she was awarded OFA Award for Best Debut Actress. Then Karki's next release was in the year 2013—Kollywood, which underperformed at the box office, though Karki's performance led her to be nominated for the National Film Award. In the same year, she was cast in Dipendra K. Khanal's Vigilante 3D. It is recognized as the first 3D Nepali film but due to technical issues, the film had a limited 3D release.^[8] Most of the shooting for the movie was done in locations of Kathmandu and Nuwakot. The movie had a budget of 1 crore out of which 20 lac was for the 3D camera alone.^[9] The film received mixed reviews. National Daily Nagarik mentioned that the movie is worth watching, and Himalayan Times noted that the screenplay had some loopholes but the story was presented with intrigue and suspense.^[10]

In 2014, she appeared in the film Jholay, Nai Nabhannu La 2 and Aawaran , all of which were commercially successful.^[11] Karki's performances were also applauded by critics for her choices of roles and appreciative of her against-type portrayals. These films earned her various accolades and nominations including Online Filmykhabar Award as Best Actress,^[12] NEFTA Award for Best Actor in a supporting role (Female), INFA award for Best Actor in a Supporting Role (Female) and Most Popular Actor (Female).^[13][14] For the film Aawaran, she also sang an alternate version of the song with Yama Buddha.^[15] In the same year, she also appeared in the ensemble drama Mero Best Friend, starring alongside Bimlesh Adhikari and Keki Adhikari.^[16][17]

In 2015, she appeared in the film Suntali. It premiered at the 19th Busan International Film Festival in the Window on Asian Cinema category.^[18][19] Abhimanyu Dixit of The Kathmandu Post wrote, "Without ever falling into the clichés of spunky heroine, [Karki] effortlessly embodies that admirable thing: a modern woman.^[20] Sophia Pande of Nepali Times wrote, "Suntali is quite the pleasure for those of us who have cringed in the theaters while watching Nepali films in the past".^[21] Niranjan Kunwar of The Record wrote "Suntali is a simple, yet beautiful film. And it's the simplest beauty that can be the most powerful".^[22] The staff of Online Khabar wrote, "True to its form, Suntali combined these two to a certain degree of success. But the audience couldn't warm up to this as most failed to recognise the clever juxtaposition of these forms".^[23] Karki's performance was critically acclaimed for which she won various accolades for Best Actress including Nepal Film Critics Award (NFCA) and the National Film Award.^[24] Her next release of the year was the horror thriller film Mala, she starred as the title character in the film, a widow, with long black hair and a white sari who is seen throughout but speaks only one word. The film had the song "Surke Thaili Khai". It went on to become the first Nepali song to reach 20 million views on YouTube.^[25][26] But the film performe poorly at the box office. Further, she appeared in the thriller film Sadanga, starring alongside Sauram Raj Tuladhar and Saugat Malla. Then in the same year, she returned with sequel Nai na Bhannu la 3. Karki's last release of the year was the film Woda Number 6, which was directed by Ujwal Ghimire and she starred alongside Kedar Ghimire, Dayahang Rai and Deepa Shree Niraula.^[27]

In 2016, she first appeared in the film Fanko. Then she appeared comedy film How Funny, directed by Nilu Doma Sherpa.^[28] Online Khabar applauded the film.^[29] In a video review, Canada Nepal also praised the film.^[30] Then she appeared in the sequel Nai Nabhannu La 4.^[31] The film met with mixed response from critics but overwhelming response from audience. It also emerged as one of the highest grossing Nepali film.^[32] The series of successful films continued with her next project—the comedy drama Chhakka Panja.^[33] The film was directed by Deepa Shree Niraula in her directorial debut. The movie's viewership surpassed Hindi films such as Baar Baar Dekho and Freaky Ali.^[34] The film even attracted prime ministers KP Oli, Jhalanath Khanal and Madhav Kumar Nepal, comedians Madan Krishna Shrestha and Hari Bansha Acharya. Prime Minister Oli reviewed Chhakka Panja as a good film but criticised its title. Jhalanath Khanal also gave good reviews to the film saying that the film unsettled him with its social satire.^[35] The Himalayan Times wrote "Chhakka Panja is a total comedy and social drama, a story of friendship, love and revenge. It is hilarious from start to finish."^[36] It emerged as one of the highest grossing Nepali film of all time. Karki's last release of the year was the film Purano Dunga.^[37][38] Which also emerged as commercially successful.^[39][40][41]

In 2017, she first appeared in the film Radhe.^[42] The film is about a man named Radhe who loves Priya but one day he leaves the village without anyone's notice then he joins the Nepalese army to fight for his country.^[43][44][45] The film was one of the successful film that was released that year and was commercially successful at the box office.^[46][47] Further she appeared in the film Laltin. In the same year, she also appeared in the film Chhakka Panja 2. Ekantipur reported that Chhakka Panja 2 earned Rs. 60 million in the six days. The film emerged as the highest-grossing film in Nepal of the year breaking record of Prem Geet 2 within 8 days. Chakka Panja 2 also broke the opening of Baahubali 2 in Nepal and its newest box office estimate was Rs. 13 crore.^[48][49][50] Her last release of the year was the film Fateko Jutta, opposite Saugat Malla.^[51] In 2018, she had nine film releases – four of them — Butterfly (colors of love), Changa Chait, Happy Days and Katha Kathmandu — were critical and commercial failures.^[52] Apart from the failure she also had successful releases — Shatu Gatey , Kohalpur Express, Nai Na Bhannu La 5 and Chhakka Panja 3.^[53] Her last release of the year was the film Lily Bily.^[54]

In 2019, she first appeared in the film Anaagat. Further she appeared in the film Prem Diwas. Her last release of the year was the film Hajar Juni Samma.^[55] Sunny Mahat of The Annapurna Express wrote, "Now this is a movie you'd want to watch with your female friends, just to see them cringe at the creepy old man trying to find a match for his son".^[56] Abhimanyu Dixit of The Kathmandu Post, wrote "But Chamling's [producer] efforts have been wasted because the delivery is lazy. So is the screenplay and dialogue, written by director Bikash Raj Acharya and Samipya Timilsina".^[57] Rupak Risal of Moviemandu wrote that Karki had "done justice to [her] role".^[58][59]

Karki recorded Bachchu Kailash's classic "Timi le ta Hoina" which is a cover song and released a video for it.^[60] Karki also collaborated with YouTube performer Nattu Shah and recorded a cover version of Jason Mraz and Colbie Caillat's 'Lucky'.^[61] Karki's debut single "Swatantra", which is about freedom, liberation, and independence, was released on 1 January 2016. The single had more than 300,000 views during the first two weeks and it hit a million views in the first two months.^[62]

Karki is one of the judges for the first international dancing reality show Boogie Woogie Nepal alongside choreographer Kabiraj Gahatraj and actor Dilip Rayamajhi.^[63][64]

Karki supports various causes and charitable organisations. She and her husband (Ayushman Joshi) was appointed as the members of Clean Environment Mega Campaign. The pair was appointed through a ministerial-level meeting. In February 19, the Ministry of Forests and Environment took a decision to this effect.^[65]

Priyanka Karki married Rochak Mainali, who lives in Troy, New York, when she was 22, the couple divorced two years later. After years of speculation, Karki married her long-time boyfriend, fellow Nepali film actor Ayushman DS Joshi in February 2020.^[66] She gave birth to their first child, Ayanka Karki Joshi, in September 2021.^[67]

• Official website
• Priyanka Karki at IMDb
• Priyanka Karki on Instagram