• Bollywood’s Sonakshi, Malaika, and Nepali actresses to perform together for a cause

KATHMANDU: After the devastating earthquake of April 25, 2015, Nepal is trying to rise from the rubble. Various internal and external forces are helping Nepal to rise. And striving for this cause is Nepalese Army Wives Association (NAWA) with their grand charity event, ‘Amar Panchhi: Rising from the Ashes’.

Seven national artistes — Rekha Thapa, Priyanka Karki, Keki Adhikari, Nisha Adhikari, Reecha Sharma, Sushma Karki and Indira Joshi along with Bollywood artistes — Sonakshi Sinha and Malaika Arora have joined hands in the unprecedented endeavour of dance and music.

A press meet was organised on May 5 at Soaltee Crowne Plaza to share about the event.

“It is a charity event for the people affected by the earthquake,” Desal Lama, Event Manager of Alpenglow Events expressed at the event on behalf of  NAWA.

“Bollywood actresses Sonakshi Sinha and Malaika Arora are

coming from Mumbai and we also have top Nepali actresses on board,” she  informed.

The fund raised by the event, to be held at Army Ground, Tundikhel on May 14, will be used to “build schools for quake victims”.

‘Amar Panchhi: Rising from the Ashes’ will be two-and-a-half-hours event where the artistes will entertain the audience through dance and music. A total of 40 crew members including 22 dancers, Sinha and Arora are coming from India while the Nepali artistes will be performing with 50 backup dancers.

“You must have seen IIFA Awards and Zee Cinema Awards. They present full-blown performances — stage filled with lights, sound, lots of people, good music, back up dancers, costume, and colour. You can expect the same (here). We are trying to present the event of same international standard,” Lama informed.

And so from Bollywood moves to contemporary steps to belly dance, different kinds of dances will come alive on the stage.

“We all are excited about the event. Our performances have been choreographed by choreographer Renasha Rai and with ample number of backup dancers,” Priyanka shared adding, “We will be performing at the event of international standard for which we have worked very hard.”

This is Thapa’s “first stage performance” and the actress who raises voice on women empowerment through her films, says, “My performance has been choreographed to reflect that, and I am very excited about it.” She adds, “You have to come to see.”

The show starts at 6:00 pm. The tickets are priced Rs 5,000, Rs 2,500, Rs 1,000 and Rs 500.