is set around Nepal's capital Kathmandu, and the plot focuses on five young men who are in desperate need of money. The film features an ensemble cast and went on to win National Film Awards for Best Actor, Best Art Director, and Best Editing. Nischal Basnet contributed vocals as a playback singer to the film's original song, "Udhreko Choli", with Indira Joshi. Loot became a blockbuster at the box office, earning NPR 25.5 million Nepalese rupees (approximately US$218,000 in 2019). According to MyRepublica, the film became a cult classic. After making his directorial debut, Basnet acted in Uma (2013) and Kabaddi (2014). In Kabaddi, he appeared in a lead role as Bibek, who tries to abduct a gangster's daughter. His role in the film received acclaim. In 2014, Basnet directed the dark comedy Talakjung vs Tulke, which is set during the Nepalese Civil War (1996–2006). The film was commercially successful and received critical acclaim, with Basnet winning a National Film Award for Best Director. Talakjung vs Tulke was selected as the Nepalese entry for the Best Foreign Language Film at the 88th Academy Awards, but it was not nominated; Basnet said that he felt good having his film be Nepal's Oscar representation. Of the selection, Basnet said that: "I make my movie my way, others make movies their way. It is up to the panel of judges and how they see a movie". After Talakjung vs Tulke, Basnet starred in Kabaddi Kabaddi (2015), and made a special appearance in Zindagi Rocks (2015). 2017–present: Loot 2 and Prasad In 2017, Basnet directed the sequel to his debut Loot, titled Loot 2. After Loot became a blockbuster, Basnet had planned a sequel, but its pre-production in writing the plot had taken a long time. The film starred the original cast of Loot as well as new stars, including Bipin Karki and Alisha Rai. Like the original, Loot 2 became a blockbuster at the box office, grossing NPR 78.5 million. OnlineKhabar wrote that they "can sense director Basnet's genuine involvement in trying to elevate Loot 2 beyond the obvious comparison to its prequel. His characters have matured, not in a way warranting epiphanies mind you, but in a subtle manner like the effect passing of time has on individuals". The same year, Basnet acted in the comedy-drama Dui Rupaiyan (2017). The plot concerns his character, Jureli, and Asif Shah's Dari searching for two