By Malika Joshi
Aaditya Shrestha
Director, Filmmaker – The Misfits
This year hit me with the biggest plot twist: the “savior” I’d been waiting for was just my own stubborn, dream-drunk self. I kept hoping some filmmaking mentor would descend from the heavens, but then one idea struck so hard I couldn’t stop writing, even though I thought I was terrible at it. Broke but burning with ambition, I launched a GoFundMe, and my people showed up like magic, trusting my vision before I trusted myself. We found the perfect cast, built a killer crew, and lived a movie on set. And that’s when it clicked no guide is coming. I am the guide.
Ajay Thapa Magar
Video-editor, filmmaker, content-creator
What brought me light this year was giving myself permission to leave behind something I had outgrown. I held onto it for years because it once meant everything, but letting it go opened space for clarity and new possibilities. This year also showed me that I am not defined by who I used to be. I can reinvent myself, follow my curiosity, and choose a direction that feels alive and true. In that shift, I found the courage to grow into a version of myself I’m finally excited about.
Mahima Joshi
Artist manager
This year tested me in ways I didn’t expect. There were moments when finding light felt almost impossible, yet I realized that even the hardest days carry a quiet glow of their own. My lows taught me resilience, my challenges pushed me toward hope, and every tough season reminded me that there truly is light at the end of the tunnel. But above all, it was the people in my life who became my brightest light, lifting me, grounding me, and reminding me of who I am. I’ve always been grateful for them, and this year only deepened that feeling. My people have held me, carried me, and shaped me in ways I never imagined.
Nayan Rai
Director, Co-founder: Stellar Studios
I’ve always been so impatient, someone who lived a little too far in the future, dreaming fast and expecting everything to fall into place on my timeline. And when it didn’t, the disappointment hit harder than I admitted. But this year, I slowed down. I started noticing small things, giving myself time, understanding myself better. The more present I became, the more I realized how my work, my family, and my friends quietly ground me. They slow down time in a way nothing else does. Life changes constantly, but in those moments, it feels like something lasting… almost infinite.
Aashutosh Barahi
Actor, Director – Jyasa Films
What brought me light this year was the chance to step beyond home and explore the world, only to realize how deeply connected I am to my own roots. Traveling made me appreciate my culture and purpose more than ever. Meeting people who admired our work filled me with gratitude and reminded me why I push myself. This year also quietly rearranged my circle, removing the wrong energies and bringing me closer to my family. It felt like the universe guiding me back to what truly matters.
