Tulsi Ghimire : Kalimpong Boy to Legendary Nepali Filmmaker

Tulsi Ghimire is a Nepali film director, screenwriter, film editor, cameraman, actor and lyricist. He is one of the most well-known and successful directors of the Nepali film industry. Tulsi Ghimire was born in Sindeybong, Kalimpong, Darjeeling district, India to Dhojman Ghimire and Narbada Ghimire. He has two younger brothers and a sister. Tulsi studied at the Mani Memorial Primary School in Sindeybong up to second grade, and then from grade 3 to 11 at the Scottish University Mission Institute (SUMI), Kalimpong. He obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree from Kalimpong College. 

He is married to Bharati Ghimire (Gazmer), who has sung in many of his films. His brother Shrawan Ghimire is a successful film producer. Tulsi's children, Bhawana Ghimire and Panchami Ghimire, have also appeared in a Nepali children's film Swarg Ko Pari. In addition to being a film director, Tulsi Ghimire has also been a successful screenwriter, editor, cameraman, actor and lyricist.Tusli Ghimire initially moved to Mumbai from Kalimpong in 1974 to work in the Indian film industry, Bollywood. Tulsi’s mentor and Bollywood editor Kamlakar Karkhanis advised him to make Nepali movies at that time. Tusli debuted in the Nepali film industry with the Nepali movie Bansuri in 1981 as a director. 

He made his second movie Kusume Rumal in 1985, based on his own story, which became very successful. Among his movies, Kusume Rumal, Lahure, Deuta, Chino, Balidaan, Dakshina and Darpan Chhaya are considered hits. Darpan Chaya is considered to be one of the top grossing and the biggest blockbusters of Nepali cinema. Tulsi Ghimire is currently busy in an animated movie, the first in the Nepali movie industry. The movie made on the story of Buddha is expected to be release in 2013 and will be dubbed in seven different languages. The movie was reported to cost over 80 million rupees.