Dentist swaps molars for movies to direct films

A former dentist from Surrey has swapped molars for movies to become a famous film director in Nepal.

Kapil Rijal used to tend to patients' teeth in Lightwater before deciding to change career and chase his childhood celluloid dream.

His latest big screen effort, entitled Gauthali, is currently enjoying huge success and is the South Asian country's second highest grossing film to date.

It deals with topics such as child marriage, women's education and social discrimination, which Rijal described as "still very relevant there today".

Rijal, whose father had been a film maker and artist in Nepal, said he had been into movie-making since he was a boy.

"I grew up in that background and used to make music videos and short films when I was at college," he said, adding that his early ambition soon gave way to the responsibility of running a UK dental practice.

"But, with my eldest daughter also now a dentist and my youngest studying dentistry, I decided the time was right to do what I always wanted and get back to working on films."

Rijal's directorial debut, the comedy film Harry Ki Pyari, came out in 2023 and saw him delving back into his Nepalese heritage.

"I went to Nepal purely because I knew the technicians there and realised I could showcase the country on the international market," he said.

A remake of a 2001 musical film of the same name, 2026's Gauthali tells the story of a 14-year-old girl forced into marriage, denied schooling and robbed of her childhood by strict tradition.

"The main character, Gauthali, is only 14 and wants to study, but instead she has to get married to a 22-year-old autistic man, and the film shows how her life goes from there," said Rijal.

"I think it's resonated with so many people because child marriage used to happen in Nepal not so long ago - indeed it still does in some parts.

"So people who have experience of these sorts of things, or whose parents had it happen to them, have been coming to see the film," he added.

"Even today, young women who want to pursue a career or travel the world are having pressure put on them to settle down, get married and have children.

"So it's very relatable even now."

Follow BBC Surrey on Facebook, X, and Instagram and listen to BBC Radio Surrey on Sounds. Send your story ideas to southeasttoday@bbc.co.uk or WhatsApp us on 08081 002250.