Anjana Baraili Becomes the Most Demanded Actress After Back-to-Back Hits

Rising star Anjana Baraili has become one of the most sought-after actresses in Nepali cinema after delivering three consecutive hits — Mahapurush, Pujar Sarki, and Purnabahadurko Sarangi. With filmmakers now lining up to cast her, Anjana finds herself facing a new challenge: choosing the right project.

Success Puts Spotlight on Anjana's Film Choices

Anjana admits that post-success, it's common for actors to be flooded with offers. “I’ve been getting a lot of film offers lately. I’m trying to pick only the right ones,” she shared. “It’s actually hard to decide which one to accept and which to turn down.”

She says the pressure becomes even greater when producers assume a film will succeed just because of her name. “That creates a different kind of stress for us as actors,” she explained.

Her upcoming movie Mahabhoj was set to release this Thursday but has been postponed due to recent unrest and unfavourable national conditions. Despite this delay, Anjana remains confident about the film’s impact.

She recently signed a new film Parivartan and follows a careful selection process before taking on a role. She first assesses the content, then the character’s connection to the storyline, and finally evaluates the team. If all three click, only then does she accept the offer.

Except for Dori, most of her roles have been successful. She believes Mahabhoj, too, will add to her growing success because of its strong content and meaningful characters.

From Village Girl to City Role: Anjana’s Transformation

Until now, Anjana has mostly been seen in village-based roles, earning her a reputation for playing rural characters. But in Mahabhoj, she plays an urban woman for the first time. Though she grew up in the city herself, her earlier rural roles were just a coincidence, she says.

When asked about the film's title, Mahabhoj, she explained, “People often think of food when they hear ‘bhoj’. But this story is about cooperative fraud and the family, social, and political conflicts that arise from it. It’s a story every household can relate to.”

Directed by Dinesh Raut, Mahabhoj features a powerful cast including Aryan Sigdel, Dayahang Rai, Khagendra Lamichhane, Gaumaya Gurung, and Malika Mahat. While she’s worked with Dinesh and Aryan before in Pujar Sarki, this is her first collaboration with the others.

Working with Khagendra was especially memorable for her. “We first connected during a music video project a few years ago. I used to think he’d be strict, but he turned out to be very kind and down-to-earth,” she shared.

Dreaming Bigger with Stronger Roles

Anjana has had the chance to work with many talented co-stars. She hopes future projects will offer her more roles alongside both established and emerging actors. She also expressed her wish to see — and be part of — more female-led films, which she feels are still too few in Nepal.

Since her debut in 2022’s Mahapurush, Anjana’s acting journey has moved quickly. “Becoming an actress was my childhood dream,” she said. “But I never imagined I’d enter the industry this fast or get here this soon. It still feels surreal.”