Loafer

Loafer is a 2013 Nepali film directed by debut director Aditya Bikram Lamsal, who also wrote the story, screenplay and dialogue, and produced by Chhabi Raj Ojha under the banner of Chhabiraj Films. The movie was released in theaters on December 6, 2013, and stars Aaryan Sigdel, Dayahang Rai, Kamal Mani Nepal and Rajani KC in the leading roles, with Sushil Raj Pandey, Kamal Krishna Poudel, Dhruba Koirala, Amit Shrestha, Anupam Sharma and Sagar Lamsal in supporting parts.

The film created a good amount of hype in the media because of producer Chhabi Raj Ojha, who had been continuously working with Rekha Thapa for about a decade before replacing her with the new actress Rajani KC in Loafer. The movie was also the first film of Ojha that was especially targeted at multiplex audiences. The story follows the character Bhanta, played by Dayahang Rai, around whom the movie revolves, with Aaryan Sigdel appearing as Inspector Sigdel.

The song Ekkasi Dukkasi from the film was released in September 2013 and helped build anticipation for the movie. The production used a well-known star cast, which was another major plus point of the film, appealing to audiences of multiplex theaters who were familiar with these artists.

However, critics found the execution disappointing. Reviews noted that while Loafer had a very good story to start with and a popular star cast, director Aditya Bikram Lamsal failed to present the excellent story and well-known actors in an effective way. Dayahang Rai had nothing new to offer as Bhanta, and Aaryan Sigdel's inspector character felt like the common Bollywood-style police officer seen in many movies. Rajani KC, despite getting free publicity from replacing Rekha Thapa, had a small role with hardly five lines of dialogue, unable to justify her character as a kidnapped girl.

Despite its mixed reception, Loafer remains notable as the first film of producer Chhabi Raj Ojha aimed at multiplex audiences and as an early example of the youth-oriented films featuring the rising stars Dayahang Rai and Aaryan Sigdel.