Pooja Chopra, Femina Miss India World 2009 and actor, is in Nepal for her third visit, a trip she says has left her with cherished memories of the country’s spirituality, food and warmth.
From attending the evening aarti at Pashupati Nath and visiting Boudhanath to enjoying Thakali food and momos, Chopra says Nepal feels “like home.”
In an interview with Onlinekhabar, she talks about her connection with Nepal, her admiration for the country’s young leadership, her journey from pageantry to cinema, and her hopes of collaborating with Nepali filmmakers.
Welcome to Nepal, Pooja ji. What brought you here this time, and what has your experience been like so far?
I had an appearance in Nepal a couple of nights ago and decided to take a day off to refresh my memories. This is my third time visiting- my first two trips were so beautiful and memorable that I just had to stay back for an extra day.
My experience has been amazing. Kathmandu has transformed so much since I was last here 13 years ago, in 2013, for an aviation academy appearance. Seeing the country’s growth and development during the drive from the airport to the hotel was wonderful.
We attended the Aarti at Pashupatinath Temple on Sunday. It was very crowded, but fortunately, my team and I met the chief Pandit ji and had a very peaceful darshan. After that, we went to Chandragiri and then had a full Nepali meal—Thakali thali, sel roti, and achar.
Later, I visited Boudhanath, where I tried laphing, soupy laphing, and keema noodles. These flavours are so unique and distinct from what we get in India; the very first bite of the soupy laphing was incredible and bursting with flavour.
I also reconnected with my Nepalese family. Manju Lama and her family have treated me like family since my previous visits, so I met Manju in the evening at Boudhanath Stupa before heading back to the hotel.
Did you get a chance to try some good momos while you were here?
Yes! When we ordered the Thakali thali at Jimbu Thakali, my driver recommended trying their chicken momos. They were delicious and so flavorful that we couldn’t finish them all, so I packed some for later. I was still too full from lunch to eat them in the evening, but I will definitely have them once more before I leave.
You can find good momos in India as well, right?
Not quite like these- the flavour profile is completely different. In India, momos are prepared differently. Here in Nepal, they aren’t overly spicy or heavy on masala, but they are rich in natural, delicious flavours.
You mentioned visiting Pashupatinath Temple yesterday. What did that experience mean to you personally?
As a spiritual person, I believe visits like this cannot just be planned; they are written in destiny. Sometimes trips get cancelled at the last minute, or weather disrupts your plans, but yesterday felt truly divine. We got darshan right at the front, and the Pandit ji explained the entire puja procession to me. It was deeply peaceful and enriching.
I am not much of a club person; I prefer visiting spiritual destinations. Just two months ago, I went to Haridwar for an event. My work often brings me to these sacred places, and I always return home with so many cherished memories. Nepal has always been exceptionally warm, beautiful, and kind to me. This was my third visit to Pashupati Nath, and during my previous trips, I also visited the Manakamana temple.
Nepal and India share deep cultural, spiritual, and cinematic connections. During this visit, what similarities or connections between the two countries have you personally felt?
The most intriguing part was working with the local hair and makeup team of four or five people. They were all speaking fluent Hindi and singing Hindi songs. When I asked how they spoke so fluently, they mentioned growing up watching Indian shows like Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi, Kasauti Jindagi Ki. While getting ready for the event, we played and sang along to songs like “Kabhi Alvida Na Kehna.” It was so much fun and did not feel like I was in another country at all. India and Nepal really are like siblings.
Even the written script looks a lot like Hindi. When I hear two Nepali people speaking, I can understand a lot of it, so it really feels like home.
You might know that Hindi cinema is extremely popular here in Nepal—in fact, some Hindi films earn more here than local films do.
Absolutely. Hindi cinema, daily soaps, songs—everyone here is updated on everything! It really doesn’t feel like I’m in another country.
Would you be interested in working in Nepalese cinema or collaborating with local filmmakers and artists if the right project came your way?
Of course! I can’t speak the language, unfortunately, but just as North Indian actors do in South Indian films, I would love to do it. It would give me a wonderful opportunity to stay in this beautiful country. I would love to collaborate, wear traditional Nepalese outfits, travel to places like Pokhara that I haven’t visited yet, and shoot songs there. It would be amazing.
Do you follow any artists in Nepal?
In Nepal, apart from my family friends, I’ve been following your new Prime Minister. Personally, I think he’s phenomenal. The changes he has brought about are impressive. I spoke to a few locals, including my driver, and they are all very happy with him. When you see a neighbouring country progress, it feels amazing. He is a hero of sorts—young, ambitious, with a great vision and heading in the right direction.
Whenever someone stands up for what’s right, people will support him, and he has that support. At 36, he is young, so the sky is the limit for him. I hope he continues on this path and that the country develops even more by the time I visit next. He is definitely someone I follow and admire.
You won Femina Miss India World 2009 and went on to represent India at Miss World. Looking back, how did that pageant transform your life and shape the person you are today?
Completely. Imagine being a regular middle-class girl studying in Pune, riding a non-geared scooter from home to college. Suddenly, you win Miss India, and your life transforms overnight. I remember the exact second I realised my life had changed: right after I was crowned, waved, and stepped down from the stage, seven or eight bodyguards suddenly surrounded me for protection. The media was crowding around with microphones, asking questions. They rushed me into a car; people were knocking on the windows, and as the car drove off, I thought, “My life has changed.” Going from an ordinary college student to someone the entire nation wants to know about happened in seconds. I couldn’t be more grateful; it’s the best thing that ever happened to me.
Your journey moved from beauty pageants to cinema, starting with films like Ponnar Shankar and Commando: A One Man Army. What was the biggest challenge in proving yourself as an actor rather than simply being known as a pageant winner?
Coming from a non-film background made it very challenging. I had taken acting courses, but I believe true acting can’t be taught—it has to come from within. I am naturally a spontaneous person, so understanding the mechanics of acting took some time. But when the audience accepts your work, it validates that you’re on the right path. Ponnar Shankar did well, and Commando was received wonderfully across the country. I was fortunate to work with great directors and talented actors like Neeraj Pandey, Manoj Bajpayee, Vidyut Jammwal, Sharman Joshi, and Sidharth Malhotra, learning a lot from each of them. The learning process is still ongoing.
By the way, my next film is Jeevan Bheema Yojana with Arshad Warsi, who plays a double role. It’s a fun, wholesome family film—I only do family films!
At this stage of your career, what kinds of characters and stories are you most interested in exploring?
I want to be part of stories that are realistic, inspiring, or leave the audience with a meaningful message. I’d love to do biopics and inspiring stories. I also really enjoy comedy! However, I can’t do horror films because I get scared far too easily. People try to convince me that shooting a horror movie isn’t scary in person, but I just can’t bring myself to do it. Similarly, if a role requires me to be extremely bold, I hesitate because I’m naturally quite shy.
Your TED Talk, Write Your Own Destiny: Journey of a Once Abandoned Girl Child, shares a deeply personal story of resilience. What message would you give to young women in India or Nepal who are pursuing ambitious dreams despite difficult circumstances?
My story has been unique. When I was born, my father refused to accept a second girl child since my elder sister was already born. My mother was asked to either abandon me or put me in an orphanage; otherwise, we couldn’t stay in his house. My mother chose me and walked away, raising my sister and me single-handedly.
Hats off to her—she is my true hero. Even at 72, she is still working. Growing up, I saw her work double shifts to support us alone. To this day, she gives me the motivation to work hard and make her proud. She deserves the world.
My advice to young people is to find your core motivation—understand why you want to achieve your goal, whether it’s entering the film industry, becoming a pilot, joining the Air Force, or anything else. Have a dream, stay motivated every day, work hard, and believe in yourself. Anything you can dream of can be achieved. If someone has done it before, you can do it too; if no one has, you can be the first.
That is wonderful advice. Having experienced Nepal and its people firsthand, what will you be taking back with you from this visit, and what message do you have for your Nepali fans?
First of all, I want to say a huge thank you to everyone in Nepal. People here are extraordinarily warm and welcoming. As I mentioned, it truly feels like home. I am taking back precious memories and prasad from Pashupatinath Temple. My heart was already full of fond memories of Nepal, and this trip has added even more.
