Filming in Nepal | Lights, Camera, Action in Nepal

 In 2005, Cameron Diaz, a renowned Hollywood actress, hosted a show named Trippin' on MTV, a documentary series aiming to educate young audiences about nature by taking celebrities to various eco-friendly locations worldwide. The inaugural episode was shot in Nepal, showcasing Diaz alongside Eva Mendes, rapper Redman, and Blink-182's Mark Hoppus. The filming took place in Kathmandu and Chitwan.

Carolyn Syangbo, a production liaison in Nepal for the show, remembers the producers' worry regarding paparazzi in Chitwan. However, she had to persuade them that Diaz was relatively unknown there, unlike in Honduras where fans and media caused disruptions during filming with Diaz and Mendes.

Filming in Nepal

Similarly, when Michael Palin filmed his BBC series "Himalaya" in Pokhara in 2004, he was pleasantly surprised not to be recognized by locals until a group of British tourists recognized him in Boudha. In 2015, Benedict Cumberbatch was shooting near Pashupati in a tattered overcoat, followed by a camera crew and a microphone. As Marvel's Doctor Strange was being filmed in Kathmandu, crowds gathered in various areas after the first photos went viral.

Director Scott Derrickson chose to film Doctor Strange in Nepal to showcase an unfamiliar "Eastern city" for audiences, deviating from the original comic's Tibet setting due to concerns about Chinese censorship. Despite the 2015 earthquake, Cumberbatch and Derrickson persisted, hoping the film would boost tourism in Nepal. For Nepali viewers, seeing their country prominently labeled as 'Kathmandu, Nepal' in the film and witnessing familiar cultural sites on screen was a significant connection point. Nepal has also been a favored location for Bollywood films, featuring stars like Dev Anand in "Haré Rama Haré Krishna" in 1971 and Amitabh Bachchan in "Uunchai" more recently, providing a sense of pride and recognition for Nepalis to see their country in major movie productions.

Additionally, various films, such as Philippe de Broca’s "Les Tribulations d'un Chinois en Chine," Eddie Murphy's "The Golden Child," Éric Valli’s "Himalaya," and Pier Paolo Pasolini’s "Arabian Nights," have incorporated Kathmandu's landmarks and the Himalayan backdrop in their storytelling, further showcasing Nepal's rich cultural and scenic tapestry.

Source: https://nepalitimes.com/here-now/lights-camera-action-in-nepal