Kathmandu — Production has officially wrapped on Zero Degree, the darkly comic Nepali film that set out to find laughter in one of life's most universal and quietly absurd situations. The final shot was filmed on Monday in Dhital Village, Kaski, featuring actors Rajan Bhusal and Prakash Ghimire, bringing a 37-day shoot to a close.
The production had originally scheduled 35 days of filming, beginning with a formal muhurt ceremony at the Armalakot Temple in Pokhara. The two additional days were absorbed by the kind of real-world challenges that rural filmmaking in Nepal regularly demands. Weather was the primary obstacle, with rain falling almost every day throughout the shoot. Despite the conditions, the team pressed forward without losing momentum, and in one final push during the last phase of production, the crew filmed for an uninterrupted 30 hours straight.
Director Aakash Baral reflected on the experience with evident pride: "Even through the difficult conditions, the atmosphere on set remained full of enthusiasm and energy throughout."
The film was shot entirely across scenic and authentic locations around Pokhara including Armalakot, Dhital, Gharmi, and Bagar — settings that lend the film a raw, natural texture that perfectly suits its premise.
For those new to the project, Zero Degree follows the hilariously dark chain of events that unfolds when a deep freezer must be hauled up to a remote village — one cut off from proper road access — to preserve the bodies of deceased parents until their children, working abroad, can return home for the funeral. It is a premise that mines the very Nepali reality of foreign migration and the impossible distances it creates, with sharp wit and village-level absurdity.
The film is jointly directed and written by Aakash Baral and Sajan Kafle. Lead actor Vijay Baral appears in a distinctly different avatar from his usual screen persona, though the production team has kept further details about his character under wraps. The cast also includes Prakash Ghimire, Rajan Bhusal, Sanisha Bhattarai, veteran actress Vasundhara Bhusal, Ramesh Budathoki, Lokendra Lekhak, Sanjog Rasaili, Pravesh Mahatara Kshetri, Sharda Silwal, Sabina Thapa Kshetri, Rambaabu Regmi, Subash Gajurel, and Baasu Khanal, among others.
Produced under the banner of Meghaulee Films with Moti Karki as executive producer, the film features cinematography by Nishal Poudel, editing by Chhannas Pun Magar, color grading by Rajendra Moktan, music by Ankit Babu Adhikari, and lyrics by Yuvraj Kafle. Distribution outside the Kathmandu Valley is handled by Kuber Cine Distribution, while DCN manages valley distribution.