{{Short description|Nepalese movie and threator actor}} {{EngvarB|date=May 2014}} {{Use dmy dates|date=August 2019}} {{Infobox person | name = Saugat Malla | image = Saugat Malla.png | image_size = | caption = Malla in 2015 film, ''Sadanga'' | native_name = सौगात मल्ल | birth_date = <!--Birthdate must be attributed to a reliable published source with an established reputation for fact-checking. No blogs. No IMDb. No public records. See WP:BLPPRIVACY--> | birth_place = Nawalparasi, Nepal | native_name_lang = ne | other_names = | occupation = {{hlist|Actor|film producer}} | years_active = 1998–present | notable_works = ''Loot'', ''Kagbeni'', ''Chhadke'', ''Uma'', ''Kabaddi Kabaddi'', ''Sungava'', ''Sadanga'' | website = <!-- {{https://mallasaugat.com.np/}} --> }}
'''Saugat Malla''' (Nepali: सौगात मल्ल) is a Nepalese film actor and producer. He is one of the best contemporary actor of Nepal. He began acting professionally in 2008 and became known for his leading role as Haku Kale in ''Loot'' (2012). Other work includes Kagbeni (2007), ''Mukhauta'' (2014), ''Sadanga'' (2015), ''Soongava: Dance of the Orchids'' (2012), ''Lappan Chhappan'' (2017), ''Kabaddi Kabaddi'' (2015), and ''Fateko Jutta'' (2017), ''Kabaddi 4: The Final Match'' (2022), ''Agastya: Chapter 1'' (2024), and ''The Red Suitcase'' (2024).
==Career==
=== Early career === Malla started acting at Aarohan Gurukul (Nepals first drama school), appearing in several critically acclaimed productions including ''Oedipus Rex'' and ''Agni Ko Katha'' at Gurukul Theater.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2014-02-25 |title=An actor's world |url=https://kathmandupost.com/art-entertainment/2014/02/25/an-actors-world |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201125174259/https://kathmandupost.com/art-entertainment/2014/02/25/an-actors-world |archive-date=2020-11-25 |access-date=2018-02-11 |website=The Kathmandu Post |language=English}}</ref>
Malla made his film debut in ''Kagbeni'' (2008), directed by Bhusan Dahal and featuring Deeya Maskey, Nima Rumba and Hanif Mohammed; then in ''K Yo Maya Ho'' (2011). He had to wait four years before being signed in Nischal Basnet's ''Loot'' (2012). The film became one of the most successful films in Nepal, and he came to be identified as the bank robbing Haku Kale, the character he played in the film. Several other Nepalese films including ''Soongava: Dance of the Orchids'' (2012), ''Kathaa'' (2013), ''Sourya'' (2013), ''Badhshala'' (2013), ''Shree 5 Ambare'' (2014), ''Utsav'' (2014), ''Mukhauta'' (2014) and ''Sadanga'' (2015) soon followed.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Successful Loot, Saptahik |url=http://nepalitimes.com/news.php?id=19004 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210520111858/http://archive.nepalitimes.com/news.php?id=19004 |archive-date=2021-05-20 |access-date=2017-12-03 |website=Nepali Times}}</ref>
=== Commercial success (2015–present) === In 2015 Malla starred in the romantic-comedy ''Kabaddi Kabaddi'' (2015), directed by Ram Babu Gurung which became one of the highest grossing Nepalese films of 2015, in the role of Bam Kaji who returns to his home village, falls in love with the female lead, but must compete for her affections with a rival. After the release of Kabaddi Kabaddi (2015)<ref>{{Cite news |date=2015-09-22 |title=Sneak peek of Kabaddi Kabaddi |language=en-US |work=The Himalayan Times |url=https://thehimalayantimes.com/entertainment/events/sneak-peek-of-kabaddi-kabaddi/ |url-status=dead |access-date=2017-12-03 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201129130914/https://thehimalayantimes.com/entertainment/events/sneak-peek-of-kabaddi-kabaddi/ |archive-date=2020-11-29}}</ref> Malla was regarded as important in cinema of Nepal history.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2015-12-06 |title=The director who made the nation go Kabaddi |language=en-US |work=The Himalayan Times |url=https://thehimalayantimes.com/entertainment/events/the-director-who-made-the-nation-go-kabaddi/ |url-status=dead |access-date=2017-12-03 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201016193257/https://thehimalayantimes.com/entertainment/events/the-director-who-made-the-nation-go-kabaddi/ |archive-date=2020-10-16}}</ref> Then he appeared in ''Dying Candle'' (2016), directed by Naresh Kumar Kc, in which he starred alongside Srijana Subba, Arpan Thapa, and Lakpa Singi Tamang, which wasn't strong at the box office. Then he starred in ''Fanko'' (2016) with Dayahang Rai, Priyanka Karki, and Keki Adhikari, in the role of a bank worker who is kidnapped by thieves.<ref>{{Cite web |title='Dying Candle' review: A beautifully crafted movie |url=http://english.onlinekhabar.com/2017/02/15/395858.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171204061314/http://english.onlinekhabar.com/2017/02/15/395858.html |archive-date=2017-12-04 |access-date=2017-12-03 |website=Online Khabar |language=en-GB}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=2015-12-09 |title=Fanko to release to high expectations |language=en |work=The Kathmandu Post |url=http://kathmandupost.ekantipur.com/news/2015-12-09/fanko-to-release-to-high-expectations.html |url-status=live |access-date=2017-12-03 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200629202719/https://kathmandupost.com/art-entertainment/2015/12/09/fanko-to-release-to-high-expectations |archive-date=2020-06-29}}</ref>
In 2017 he starred in crime film ''Loot 2'', directed by Nischal Basnet. Although his performance was praised, the film was criticized as inferior to the original ''Loot''.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2017-02-25 |title=Loot 2 belongs to Saugat |language=en-US |work=The Himalayan Times |url=https://thehimalayantimes.com/entertainment/movie-review/loot-2-belongs-saugat-malla/ |url-status=dead |access-date=2018-02-11 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201016211620/https://thehimalayantimes.com/entertainment/movie-review/loot-2-belongs-saugat-malla/ |archive-date=2020-10-16}}</ref> In ''Fateko Jutta'', a romance directed by Nikesh Khadka, he acted alongside Priyanka Karki and Kameshwor Chaurasiya. The film did not do well at the box office, but the audience praised the chemistry between Malla and Priyanka Karki.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2017-05-21 |title=Fateko Jutta to star Priyanka, Saugat |language=en |work=The Kathmandu Post |url=http://kathmandupost.ekantipur.com/news/2017-05-21/fateko-jutta-to-star-priyanka-saugat.html |access-date=2017-12-03}}</ref> More recently, Malla appears in romantic films including ''Jhyanakuti'' (2017) and ''Mero Paisa Khoi'' (2017). ''Jhyanakuti'' was successful at the box office but ''Mero Paisa Khoi'' flopped after competing with another highly successful film, ''Chhakka Panja 2''.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2017-11-09 |title=Fateko Jutta to hit theatres worldwide |language=en |work=The Kathmandu Post |url=http://kathmandupost.ekantipur.com/news/2017-11-09/fateko-jutta-to-hit-theatres-worldwide.html |access-date=2017-12-03}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |title=मेरो पैसा खोईको 'ओ कान्छी' |language=ne |work=Saptahik |url=http://saptahik.ekantipur.com/news/2017-09-24/20170924111714.html |access-date=2017-12-03 |archive-date=4 December 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171204114622/http://saptahik.ekantipur.com/news/2017-09-24/20170924111714.html |url-status=dead }}</ref>
In January 2018, Malla appeared in an episode of the reality show webseries Artists Support Programme—Fashion Artist Edition.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2018-01-05 |title=Three finalists selected from ASP's fashion web-series |language=en |work=The Kathmandu Post |url=http://kathmandupost.ekantipur.com/news/2018-01-05/three-finalists-selected-from-asps-fashion-web-series.html |access-date=2018-02-11}}</ref>
== Filmography == {| class="wikitable" | style="background:#FFFFCC;" |{{dagger|alt=Films that have not yet been released}} | |Denotes films that have not yet been released | |}
{| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" ! scope="col" |Year ! scope="col" |Film ! scope="col" |Role ! scope="col" class="unsortable" |Notes ! scope="col" class="unsortable" |{{abbr|Ref(s)|Reference(s)}} |- |1998 !scope="row" |''Ranabhumi'' | |Minor role. | |- |2002 !scope="row" |''Panchhi'' | |Minor role. | |- |2008 !scope="row" |''Kagbeni'' |Ramesh |First film as a lead actor. | |- |2010 !scope="row" |''Dasdhunga'' |Don |Cameo | |- |2011 !scope="row" |''K Yo Maya Ho'' |Shyam | | |- | rowspan="3" |2012 !scope="row" |''Highway'' |Ronit | | |- ! scope="row" |''Loot'' |Haku Kale | | |- ! scope="row" |''Soongava: Dance of the Orchids'' |Milan | | |- | rowspan="3" |2013 !scope="row" |''Chhadke'' |Researcher | | |- !scope="row" |''Badhshala'' |Maoist Leader | | |- !scope="row" |''Uma'' |Milan | | |- | rowspan="5" |2014 !scope="row" |''Fitkiree'' |Jivan | | |- !scope="row" |''Utsav'' |Utsav | | |- !scope="row" |''Shree 5 Ambare'' | | | |- ! scope="row" |''Mukhauta'' |Ravi | | |- ! scope="row" |''Fitkerri'' |Jeevan Jung Thapa | | |- | rowspan="2" |2015 ! scope="row" |''Kabaddi Kabaddi'' |Bam Kaji | | |- !scope="row" |''Sadanga'' | | | |- | rowspan="3" |2016 !scope="row" |''Fanko'' | | | |- !scope="row" |''Dying Candle'' |Janak Lal | | |- ! scope="row" |''Lukamari'' |Budhan Chaudhary | | |- | rowspan="6" |2017 ! scope="row" |''Loot 2'' |Haku Kale | | |- !scope="row" |''Mero Paisa Khoi'' | | | |- ! scope="row" |''Jhyanakuti'' | | | |- ! scope="row" |''Lappan Chhappan'' |Bankaa Don | | |- ! scope="row" |''Fateko Jutta'' | | | |- ! scope="row" |''Sanrakshan'' | | | |- | rowspan="3" |2018 !scope="row" |''Jai Bhole'' |Bhole | | |- !scope="row" |''Panche Baja'' | | | |- !scope="row" |''Lalpurja'' | | | |- | rowspan="2" |2019 !scope="row" |''Poi Paryo Kale'' |Gaurav | |<ref>{{Cite web |last=Dixit |first=Abhimanyu |date=2019-11-02 |title=Beauty might not be superficial but this film is |url=http://kathmandupost.com/movie-review/2019/11/02/beauty-might-not-be-superficial-but-this-film-is |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200812002626/https://kathmandupost.com/movie-review/2019/11/02/beauty-might-not-be-superficial-but-this-film-is |archive-date=2020-08-12 |access-date=2023-05-27 |website=The Kathmandu Post |language=English}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2019-10-03 |title='पोई पर्यो काले' मा काले केटा सौगात (ट्रेलर सहित) |url=https://www.makalukhabar.com/2019/10/225423/ |access-date=2022-05-08 |website=Makalukhabar.com |language=en-US}}</ref> |- !scope="row" |''Macha Macha'' | | | |- |2020 ! scope="row" style="text-align:left; background:#ffc;"|''Teen Jantu'' |Saila |Unreleased film | |- |rowspan="7"|2022 ! scope="row" |''Lappan Chhappan 2'' |Paras Jung Rana | | |- ! scope="row" | ''Mantra'' |Karma | |<ref>{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=2021-12-08 |title=Much-awaited Himalayan love story set for release |url=https://theannapurnaexpress.com/news/much-awaited-himalayan-love-story-set-for-release-3823 |access-date=2022-05-08 |website=The Annapurna Express |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last= |date=2020-02-12 |title=Saugat's upcoming 'Mantra' features picturesque view of Mt Manaslu |url=http://myrepublica.nagariknetwork.com/news/87431/ |access-date=2022-05-08 |website=My Republica |language=en}}</ref> |- ! scope="row" | ''Kabaddi 4: The Final Match'' |Bam Kaji | |<ref>{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=2021-05-27 |title=Nepal's biggest blockbuster "Kabaddi 4: The Final Match" |url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt16529002/|access-date=2022-05-27 |website=IMDb |language=en}}</ref> |- ! scope="row" | ''Ghanachakkar'' |Krishne | | |- ! scope="row" | ''Michael Adhikari'' |Krishna Adhikari | | |- ! scope="row" | ''The Secrets of Radha'' |Basudev |Also producer | |- ! scope="row" |''Dui Nambari'' |Himal Thapa | | |- |2023 ! scope="row" |''Pashupati Prasad 2: Bhasme Don'' |Kali Prasad | | |- | rowspan="2" |2024 ! scope="row" | ''Agastya: Chapter 1 '' |Shaurya |'''Won –''' Cine Circle Awards for Best Actor |<ref>{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=2021-09-10 |title=Najir, Malika, Saugat to do Agastya|url=https://www.risingnepaldaily.com/news/22439 |access-date=2023-02-13 |website=The Rising Nepal |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=‘Dimaag Kharaab’ wins big at Cine Circle Award |url=https://en.thecinematimes.com/2024/06/22565/ |access-date=2026-01-13 |website=THE CINEMA TIMES |language=en}}</ref> |- ! scope="row" | ''The Red Suitcase'' |Driver | | |- | rowspan="5" |2025 ! scope="row" style="background:#ffc;" | ''Pitambar'' | | | |- |Jaar | | | |- |Jante Bakhro | | | |- |Ceetamol | | | |- |Balidan | | | |- | |Viral Gorkhey | | | |}
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== * {{IMDb name|4093958}} * [https://mallasaugat.com.np/ Official Website] * [https://www.thefilmnepal.com/artist/saugat-malla/profile The Film Nepal]
{{Nepal topics}} {{authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Malla, Saugat}} Category:Living people Category:21st-century Nepalese male actors Category:People from Nawalparasi District Category:Nepalese male film actors Category:Nepalese businesspeople Category:Nepalese film producers Category:21st-century Nepalese male singers Category:Nepalese male dancers Category:Nepalese male stage actors Category:1984 births Category:21st-century Nepalese dancers