Gita Shahi (; born February 3, 1984) is a Nepalese actress and model. Shahi is best known for her rise as Best Newcomer Actress from Nepalese Movie Bandhaki in 2005 and for her role on the television series Mod, Aparajita, Path Vrasta and Thorai Bhaye Pugi Sari. Shahi has worked in several movies such as Jungali Maya, Pandav, Kheladi, Jungali Manchey, Naina Reshnam and Newari movies like Nipho Swan, Maya Re Ratna and Matina.
Shahi has been doing modeling in several music videos, commercials, publications and fashion shows. She is an activist for the public health movement and has conducted Radio drama such as Jana Swasthya Karyakram (Public health program) from Nepalese National Radio Channel, Radio Nepal and played lead role as an actress in Thorai Bhaye Pugi Sari and Sanka, both being TV awareness series of Nepalese National TV Channel, Nepal Television. She is also known for her role as Video Jockey (VJ) in popular entertainment programs Sangeet Sandhya broadcast by Nepal Television and Rajatpat broadcast by Kantipur Television.
Early life and family Born in cultural city Bhaktapur, Nepal, Shahi is the daughter of Mr. Shiva Shahi and Ms. Saraswoti Shahi. She is of Nepalese descent, primarily from Newari community. Her childhood passed in care of her loving grand parents. Shahi has two older sisters and one younger brother. She started her early schooling from local school, where she completed her secondary education clearing School Leaving Certificate. During school days she used to participate actively in cultural programs. She was popular among the students and teachers. She was keenly interested in dance, which she improved over time. Her skilled dance and dedication lead her to fame in the local community. Then she started to get offers for participation in local dance and acting programs basically in cultural programs.
Career Shahi committed to acting professionally at the age of 17 and she started her early career as background dancer in movies. In year 2002, she won Miss Photogenic title in Mr. and Ms. Bhaktapur competition, which gave her initial publicity. With Miss Photogenic title in hand and after working in around 10 movies as background dancer, she received her first offer to work on television series Thorai Bhaye Pugi Sari and Sanka at the age of 18. Both of these series were public awareness series for improvement of family health and well being. Shanka was related to polio awareness and in Thorai Bhaye Pugi Sari, she played role of a grand daughter who not only search for her so abandoned grand parents, but also teach moral lesson to her parents for responsibilities of children towards parents. Her role was greatly appreciated by public. Shahi's good work and fame in the series became her stepping stone as an actress in Nepalese Movie Industry, also known as Kollywood. She started her career as an actress from the movie Bandaki, which was Box Office Hit and celebrated 100 days. From this first movie itself, she received the Best Newcomer Female Actress award in year 2005. The award was distrIbuted in the ceremony by His Majesty King Gyanendra Bir Bikram Shah Dev in the program organized by Film Development Board, Nepal.
With the remarkable success from the first movie itself, Shahi worked on popular Nepal Television Serial, MOD as a Lead Actress. MOD is one of the Super Hit Nepalese Serials in which she played role of Sakha. It had 75 plus episodes and is available on Youtube. She appeared from start to end in the serial as major actress. In parallel with the MOD Serial, she started to work as Lead Model in music videos. Some of the popular music videos in which she appeared were for hit songs like Affuno Maan Affai Sanga, Barta Garai Deu, K Cha Khaber Hajur Ko, Lahuray Ko Karima, Vhir Ma Chadyo Mali Gai and so forth, Chari Bhaye Auuthey Udayra being her first music video appearance.
Shahi's second movie was Pandav. She played role of a village girl who takes revenge for her family's massacre. With success as Nepalese movie actress and model, Shahi appeared on the cover of Glamour Plus Magazine, Kamana Magazine, Madhyapur Magazine and other magazines. Another television serial featuring Shahi was Aparajita which was broadcast by Nepal Television, and had 50 plus episodes. Her name in the serial was Salina. Aparajita was family drama in which she appeared from start to end as Lead Actress. With this success, she appeared in more music videos for Nepalese modern songs, Lok Dohari (folk songs) and also for bhajan songs.
Shahi's third movie was Jungali Maya in which she played Rumati, a village girl role from Raute community (Nomadic Tibeto-Burman ethnic group). Following years she played in other Nepalese movies like Jungali Manchey, Kheladi and also in several Newari movies, top three being Maya Re Ratna, Nipho Swan and Matina. In Maya Re Ratna movie, her name was Hasana as a lead artist and in Nipho Swan movie, she played as Prakriti. Jungali Manchey is Shahi's another Box Office Hit movie celebrating 51 days. The movie celebrated 51 days in popular cinema halls in Kathmandu like Guna Cinema Gwarko and Astha Narayan Pictures Kathmdandu. She appeared as guest artist in Naina Resham movie.
Shahi also worked as a video jockey on the popular entertainment programs Sangeet Sandhya, broadcast by Nepal Television, and Rajatpat, broadcast by Kantipur Television. Sangeet Sandhya was an entertainment program featuring updates on music, songs, and music videos. Rajatpat was a movie-update program featuring movie news, events, and reports on films and celebrities. She was also adored by the audience for this role. Shahi also successfully modeled for well-known and reputable brands. She promoted songs, new designs, products, clothing, and services through commercials, television shows, magazines, and fashion shows. Some of the notable brands she promoted through commercials included Merina Impex, a clothing company specializing in shirting and suiting; Himal Cement, related to housing; and Number 1, a condom brand. She also appeared in health-awareness commercials related to pregnancy care and the use of stretchers.
Personal life In July 2015, Shahi married Gyanesh Buda, a Software Engineer. The marriage happened in one of the holy temples in the capital, Kathmandu, Nepal according to Hindu rituals. Currently, she is living in the USA with her husband. The couple has two kids, one boy and one girl.
Contributions
Movies SN Title CategoryRoleNotes 1 BandhakiNepalese MovieSun Keshari (Lead Actress)Box Office Hit, celebrating 100 days2Jungali MancheyNepalese MovieLead ActressBox Office Hit, celebrating 51 days3PandavNepalese MovieLead ActressAction movie4Jungali MayaNepalese MovieRumati (Lead Actress) As village girl from Raute community.5KheladiNepalese MovieActressLove story / Action6BhavishyaNepalese MovieLead ActressFamily movie7Ghayal MancheyNepalese MovieLead ActressLove story / Action8Tri DevNepalese MovieLead ActressAction Movie9Maya Re RatnaNewari MovieHasana (Lead Actress)Love story movie10Nipho SwanNewari MoviePrakriti (Lead Actress)Family movie11MatinaNewari MovieLead ActressLove story movie12Naina ReshamNepalese MovieActressGuest artist
Television series SNTitleRoleCategoryChannelNotes1.Thorai Bhaye Pugi SariActressTV seriesNepal televisionPublic awareness TV series2.MODSakha (Lead artist)TV seriesNepal televisionFamily drama3.AparajitaSalina (Lead artist)TV seriesNepal televisionFamily drama4.SankaLead ActressTV seriesNepal TelevisionPublic Awareness TV series5.Path VrastaLead ActressTV seriesNepal TelevisionFamily drama6.PrasunaLead ActressTV seriesNepal TelevisionFamily drama7.PrarambhaLead ActressTV seriesNepal TelevisionPublic Awareness TV series
Radio drama SNTitleRoleCategoryChannelNotes1.Jana Swasthya KaryakramDrama ArtisteRadio dramaRadio NepalPublic Health Awareness radio drama
Video jockey (VJ) SNTitleRoleCategoryChannelNotes1.Sangeet SandhyaVideo Jockey (VJ)TV Entertainment ProgramNepal TelevisionEntertainment program related to music, songs and music video updates2.RajatpatVideo Jockey (VJ)TV entertainment programKantipur TelevisionMovie updates program with news, events, film reports
Modeling
Music video appearances SNTitle CategorySinger / Movie1Musal Dhare Pani ParyaachhaMusic VideoBimalraj Chhetri, Rajendra Lamsal Chhetri and Bishnu Majhi2Antimpalta Bhet Garau HaiMusic VideoHuman Adhikari and Bishnu Majhi3Barta Garai DeuMusic VideoSindhu Malla and Ram Chandra Kafle4Affuno Maan Affai Sanga Dhatna NamilneMusic VideoRahul Vaidhya5Batuwa Le Farkey Ra Herla, Chocolate SupariMusic VideoBalram Samal and Anjana Gurung6K Cha Khaber Hajur KoMusic VideoJagadish Samal7Darjalling Ko Ghumti Ma Ghumyo RelMusic VideoRam Chadra Kafle8K Timi Malai Jeevan Bhar Sath Dinchau RaMusic VideoPradeep Sapkota and Madavi Tripathi9Vhir Ma Chadyo Mali GaiMusic VideoKhuman Adhkari and Devi Gharti10Shakar Bhole Bam, Darshan Garna Pashupati JamMusic VideoPandit Ishwor Krishna Bhurtel11Reshami Dori MaMusic VideoRam Chadra Kafle12A ThuleMusic VideoKrishna Thapa and Bishnu Majhi13Bhawana Ko SagarMusic VideoLekh Nath Dhakal14Chari Bhaye Auuthey UdayraMusic VideoChandra Sharma, Raju Pariyar and Laxmi Neupane15Lahuray Ko KarimaMusic VideoRaju Pariyar and Bima kumari Dura16Mhiga Bahani (Newari)Music VideoHikmat Bahadur Mali17Surkhet Ma BulBul TaalMovie SongBandhaki Movie18Duniya Yo Goal ChaMovie SongNaina Resham Movie19Lyu Lyu Nhyo Nhyo Woya (Newari)Movie SongNifo Swan Movie20Sumadhur Jiwaney Thau Nefo Swan Hola (Newari)Movie SongNifo Swan Movie21Hai Re Ratna (Newari)Movie SongMaya Re Ratna Movie22Sworga Ki Pari Hau Ya Timi Dharti Ki Sundari HauMovie SongJungali Maya Movie23Jhasuka TasanMovie SongLochan Bhattarai, Nifo Swan Newari Movie
Magazine modeling SNNameCategoryAppearance1.Glamour Plus Fashion MagazineCover Page2.KamanaEntertainment MagazineCover Page3.Madhyapur Cultural MagazineCover Page
Commercials SNTitleCategoryRoleChannel1.Merina ImpexClothing (Shirting and Suiting)ModelNepal Television2.Himal CementHousing ModelNepal Television3.Number 1CondomModelNepal Television4.Pregnancy CareHealth AwarenessModelNepal Television5.Stretchers UseHealth AwarenessModelNepal Television
Awards YearAwardCategoryAreaResult2005Nepali National Film Award, NepalBest Newcomer Female ActressMovie (Bandhaki)Won2002Mr. & Miss. Bhaktapur, NepalMiss PhotogenicModelingWon
References