KATHMANDU: Elina Chauhan, the sensational singer who shot to fame with her hit song Dhokebaj, is back in the headlines—but this time, not for her music.

The talented artist has filed for divorce from her husband, Bishnu Sapkota, at the Kathmandu District Court, just one year after their marriage.

This unexpected turn of events has raised many eyebrows and sparked a larger conversation about how Nepali celebrities navigate their personal lives.

While Elina’s decision to part ways came as a surprise, the drama took a surprising twist when she publicly expressed regret, and, most astonishingly, announced that she would not seek alimony or a share of her estranged husband’s property.

Shortly after filing for divorce, Elina took to Facebook to share her feelings. In a deeply emotional post, she voiced her regret over rushing into marriage, asking her followers not to blame her husband and urging them not to demonize him.

She appealed for understanding, acknowledging how difficult this decision had been.

Though filled with emotion, Elina’s post sparked widespread discussion and highlighted a much larger issue: the increasing instability of marriages among Nepali celebrities.

The Rise of Short-Lived Marriages

High-profile divorces and short-lived marriages have become an alarming trend in the Nepali entertainment industry.

The pressures of constant public scrutiny, coupled with demanding careers that require long hours and intense emotional energy, appear to take a toll on relationships.

Celebrities live under a constant magnifying glass, where every aspect of their personal lives is subject to public dissection. This makes it harder to maintain healthy relationships.

Additionally, the fast-paced nature of the industry often creates an urgency to marry without fully understanding the practical realities of marriage.
Elina’s case reflects a larger trend: marriages among Nepali celebrities often seem to last only until they are hit by the harsh winds of stardom, public pressure, and unrealistic expectations.

A Pattern of Broken Relationships

Elina Chauhan is far from the only Nepali celebrity caught in the whirlwind of divorce. Over the past few years, Nepal has seen a number of breakups among its biggest stars.

Actor and director Prashant Oli Kanchan attributes this trend to what he calls “cultural invasion.” He argues that many Nepali artists are increasingly imitating Hollywood and Bollywood stars, who often prefer short-term relationships and breakups rather than long-term commitments, leading them away from the country’s traditional values.

Social media commenter Madan Dhami Kushal echoed similar thoughts. Reflecting on recent celebrity separations, he said, “I had a feeling this relationship wouldn’t last when I first heard about it. I didn’t expect the split to happen so quickly, though.”

His sentiment mirrors the growing disappointment among fans who have witnessed relationships collapse soon after their public declarations of love.

This is not the first time such separations have made headlines in Nepali cinema

Recently, director Chhabi Ojha divorced actress Shilpa Pokharel, with the media covering the dramatic details—including Chhabi gifting Shilpa a house worth 40 million rupees.

Similarly, actress Rekha Thapa divorced Chhabi and remarried, contributing to the increasing trend of high-profile celebrity breakups.

The latest case in this series involves actress Arunima Lamsal, whose marriage is rumored to have ended just a few months after it began. The frequency of these stories raises the question: Are celebrity relationships in Nepal destined for short lives, or is this a shift in societal values?

Why Do Nepali Celebrities Struggle with Marriage?

In Nepali society, marriage is considered a sacred, lifelong commitment between two souls. However, for Nepali celebrities, divorce and separation have become increasingly common and, in some cases, even normalized.

This contradiction becomes more pronounced when the celebrities in question portray ideal family lives on screen, yet fail to maintain their own marriages in real life.

Until recently, Nepali celebrities were seen as representatives of traditional values.

But now, many are struggling to uphold the sanctity of marriage. The pressures of fame, constant public scrutiny, and demanding career ambitions are often cited as reasons for these high-profile breakups.

Celebrities’ lives are constantly in the public eye, even their most private moments, and this can place immense strain on personal relationships.

Furthermore, the pursuit of perfection—both in their personal and professional lives—can be overwhelming.

For many celebrity couples, years of being together have not prevented their marriages from falling apart.

The reality of marriage often proves to be vastly different from the idealized relationships portrayed on screen.

Long working hours, the demands of a career in the spotlight, and the emotional toll of fame leave little time for nurturing personal relationships. Intense media pressure and fan expectations also add stress, making it harder for these relationships to survive.

While marriage is traditionally viewed as a societal milestone in Nepal, for many celebrities, it seems to be a battle they cannot win.

The relentless spotlight of fame, combined with the complexities of balancing career and personal life, makes sustaining a long-lasting marriage increasingly difficult.

Famous Faces, Failed Marriages

A spate of high-profile divorces over the past year has left fans and the media shaking their heads. Among the most publicized breakups were those of singers Rajesh Payal Rai and Nishan Bhattarai.

Nishan’s marriage to model Richa Neupane, which began with a court ceremony, ended in just two years. Rajesh, who had been in a live-in relationship for 26 years, married Sangbung Rai, only to file for divorce within a year.

This trend extends beyond a few individuals. Even beloved and respected figures like singer Anju Panta have faced the collapse of their marriages. After ten years of marriage to musician Manoj Raj Siwakoti, the couple parted ways.

However, Anju didn’t let this setback define her; she remarried and continues to shine both in her personal and professional life.

Similarly, actress and television presenter Rima Bishwakarma married her long-time boyfriend, Robert Bishwakarma, but their marriage ended after just two years.

Actress Priyanka Karki’s first marriage to American-based businessman Rochak Mainali lasted only two years, and she later remarried actor Ayushman Desraj Joshi, with whom she now has a child.

Actress Barsha Siwakoti’s marriage to U.S.-based engineer Ashish Gelal lasted only six months before they divorced.

This string of failed marriages among Nepali celebrities highlights an unsettling reality within the industry.

Interestingly, the trend extends beyond Nepali film industry stars. Manisha Koirala, one of the most famous actresses from Nepal to enter Bollywood, also experienced a failed marriage.

Her union with businessman Samrat Dahal lasted only two years. Today, Manisha remains single and is deeply involved in activism, particularly focusing on women’s rights and health issues.

As the glitz and glamour of the entertainment world remain ever-present, love in the celebrity sphere often seems fleeting and ephemeral, a mirage shaped by the very fame that brought it into the public eye.

Is Love Doomed for Celebrities?

Few stories capture the paradox of fame and failed relationships like that of actor Bhuwan KC. Once dominant in Nepali cinema, Bhuwan’s personal life has been far more tumultuous than his professional one. He has been through two divorces—first with Susmita Bamjan, then with Vijaya Malla—and is rumored to be living with actress Jiya KC.

This pattern of broken relationships among Nepali celebrities is becoming increasingly familiar.

Public scrutiny, grueling work schedules, and the pressure to maintain a flawless public image continue to drain personal lives, leading to marital breakdowns.

Celebrities who make headlines for their relationship milestones are often the same ones who find themselves in the news for the failure of those relationships.

What was once considered scandalous is now becoming routine. Many artists even choose to marry in secret, only for news of their breakups to emerge later, as their private lives can no longer be hidden.

Ironically, a growing trend is that of celebrities who live together for years before marrying, only for their marriages to unravel within the first year.

This reflects the fast-paced lifestyle, pressure to maintain public images, and a collision of personal and professional goals that often make sustaining a traditional relationship nearly impossible. In the world of fame and glamour, lasting love often feels like a distant dream.

The Larger Picture
Balancing personal and professional life in the fast-paced world of Nepali entertainment is a difficult task.

Exhausting schedules, constant public scrutiny, and the pursuit of personal ambitions place a heavy strain on relationships. Is this an inevitable result of fame, or is it indicative of a larger shift in societal values where traditional views on marriage are evolving?

While the entertainment industry continues to produce stars and successful careers, one thing remains clear: a stable marriage is increasingly an elusive dream for many celebrities in the limelight.

The idea of enduring love seems increasingly out of reach, as the pressures of fame clash with personal commitments in the spotlight.