Avinash Gurung in Darjeeling on Monday evening. Picture by Suman Tamang

Darjeeling, Nov. 20: Avinash Gurung does not want to follow his politician father Bimal Gurung, the man whose sway in the hills is unmatched, nor does he want his identity to come in the way of his chosen career.

The 22-year-old has been signed by a Kathmandu-based production house to act in a Nepali film.

Avinash will play the lead in Biteka Pal that would be produced at an approximate cost of Rs 1 crore.

According to producer Rajesh Ghatani from Big Production House, the film is a “love story, which is not just a story but a true story.”

Nepali actor Keki Adhikari will star opposite Avinash.

“I would not have accepted the offer had it come to me because of my father. I want to create my own identity. I have always been interested in modelling and photography,” said Avinash.

Ghatani, who is co-producing the film with Krish Rizal, said: “We have not taken Avinash because of his father but only for the fact that he really fitted the cast we were looking for. We wanted a very new face.”

Ghatani has produced Bato Muni Ko Phul earlier and the film had bagged many awards in the Nepali film industry. “I had stumbled upon Avinash when I had come to Darjeeling to scout for locations in July. I liked his looks, which we can call Korean looks, and it was only after I had made up my mind (to cast him) that I came to know about his father,” said Ghatani.

Avinash, who studied in St Joseph’s School (North Point) in Darjeeling and went to St Joseph’s College in Bangalore to pursue “industrial studies”, was taken to Kathmandu for a month-long course in acting, dance and action.

“We are giving him the fees a new comer commands in the Nepali film industry,” Ghatani said.

The film is being directed by Suraj Subba “Nanglo”.

The movie has seven songs and Darjeeling-based singer Prakriti Giri has lent her voice to some of them.

The music was released in Darjeeling yesterday. “The music is by Babu Bogati, Damber Nepal and Roshan Lama,” said Ghatani.

While Bimal Gurung skipped the programme, his wife Asha was present along with other Gorkha Janmukti Morcha leaders.

Ghatani said the shooting would start soon. “We will shoot only 10 per cent of the film in Nepal while the remaining parts will be shot in Darjeeling and Sikkim,” he said.