With that, some Nepali actors have already had their life insurance policy signed up, some are seeking to have one while some others are still uncertain whether to or not get a life insurance.
Having life insurance for actors abroad is nothing new for they are guaranteed of all sorts of medical treatments and are given insurance by the production team before they enroll in any movies. Take for example, Bollywood actor Akshay Kumar. To do the do or die stunts in his upcoming movie “Blue”, he charged more than IRs 150,000,000 just to do the film that excludes other facilities. Ironically, Nepali actors have never got a chance to earn even 10 million rupees from a film. None of the actors are guaranteed of financial security, and as a result, many have left the celluloid career and a few of those who hoped to be looked after live a difficult life in disappointment today.
Though quite late now, but Nepali actors now seem to have shown concern in securing their future by getting the life insurance policy. Action hero Nikhil Uprety not just have his life insured, he in fact had his limbs and ankles also insured with an insurance company. Getting different parts of one’s body insured is a common phenomena abroad but the insurance companies in the capital city of Kathmandu are still not comfortable with the idea. That was why one insurance company cancelled the contract of actor Nikhil Uprety after a year he had insured his limbs and ankles at Rs 1 million. Ironically, after the company canceled the insurance policy of Uprety’s body part, he broke his leg while shooting for a movie.
Nikhil however has the life insurance agreement with the said company.
“When actors in Nepal aren’t in the state of expecting their deserving money from the film, it would be too foolish to expect the industry and the government guarantee our health and life. It’s high time we start taking care of ourselves. I got my insurance on my own,” informed Uprety who has lost count of the number of bones he has broken so far while performing the stunts.
Husband and wife, producer Chabi Ojha and actor Rekha Thapa, are other candidates who on their own signed life insurance policy. Rekha has filed 2.5 million Rupees as her life insurance.
Thapa, who also is into performing stunts lately, has realized that it was a must for her to get the insurance done. Indeed, she urged that every individual irrespective of their profession should secure their future, if not for themselves, then for the ones who can benefit after them.
“I say a big no to live a life like that of Gopal Bhutani and Shanti Maskey. Having given so much to the industry they have to appeal to people to just get a proper meal a day. Actually it’s our fault that we never raised a voice for our security. We just cared about doing dozens of movies and never thought about the future consequences,” said the busy actor of Nepali silver screen.
On the contrary actor Bhuwan KC contradicted the idea of getting a life insurance. He, who has insurance policy for the car he drives and his home, he surprisingly does not have a life insurance and does not have plans to get one in future.
“We can’t trust the insurance companies in Nepal. How can I trust that the insurance company will loyally provide the money to my family after my demise?” KC questioned. “Maybe we actors need to know more about the policies to understand whether we really need one or not.”
Actor Nisha Adhikary feels that Nepali actors have not come across such phase of acting where insurance should be mandatory. Regarding future security, she rather had a different point of view: “We’re representing a new generation actors. We’re educated and we can always opt for multiple careers and save money for the financial backing for future. As an actor I don’t advise people to fully concentrate on movies. We have to spread our wings.”
Other actors who recently got their life insurance certificate are Rajesh Hamal and Arjun Shrestha.
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