Standing atop Mount Everest, the roof of the world, Kabita Nepali felt like a conqueror. But it was only when she stepped back into her own courtyard and saw the plate of steaming rice served by her mother that her eyes welled up. Those tears carried the frigid chill of the mountains, the warmth of success, and a profound new realization of life.
Kabita who once dazzled audiences under the glittering lights of the stage and Kabita who sought herself in the silence of Everest are now two different versions of the same person. Today, her personality radiates a newfound maturity.
For Kabita, climbing Everest was not just a dream; it was a rebirth. Since returning from the mountains, she is no longer the person she used to be.
"When I reached home for the first time after the summit, I cried while eating the rice my mother had cooked," Kabita shared during an emotional segment of Nepalkhabar celebrity show 'Let’s Talk.' "I realized the true value of a drop of water and a morsel of food only after experiencing the hardships of the mountains. Things we consider small here are monumental up there. Since then, I have become much more grounded and sensitive."
Witnessing the 'Death Zone'
During her grueling journey, Kabita saw more than just the beauty of the Himalayas; she witnessed its horrors. In the infamous ‘Death Zone,’ she encountered the frozen bodies of fallen climbers, a sight that forced her to confront the uncertainty and fragility of life.
"I saw terrifying scenes. Someone would be climbing up, while others would be carrying a body back down. It made me realize what life truly is," she said.
There were moments when Kabita felt she couldn't go on. However, the legacy of brave women like Pasang Lhamu Sherpa and Purnima Shrestha kept her moving. The fear of not being able to look herself in the mirror if she gave up pushed her to the summit.
"Many times, I felt like turning back," she admitted. "But I had come with a dream. I told myself, if I return now, how will I face myself in the mirror? I pushed a little harder, tried a little more, and eventually, I reached the top."
From martial arts to the arts
Before finding fame, Kabita was an elite martial artist, a junior national Wushu player. A ligament injury during a match changed the course of her life.
"When the injury happened, I was forced to take a break. I joined a dance class during that time, and that’s where my journey as an artist began," she recalls. She now views that injury as a "blessing in disguise," believing that while she had one plan, life had a much grander one for her.
Investment and ‘Sahu Ba’
Currently, Kabita is making waves with her action web series Sahu Ba on YouTube. Not many know that she is also an investor in the project.
"Investment isn't just money; it’s labor and sweat," she explains. Addressing rumors that she sold land to fund the project, she clarified, "My friends and I invested according to our capacities. Some might have taken loans or sold assets, but we did it to show the ‘Eighth Province’ of society, a world that exists right around us but remains invisible."
On Balen Shah and social responsibility
When asked about Kathmandu Mayor Balen Shah’s controversial use of dozers to clear slum settlements, Kabita offered a balanced perspective.
"It must have been a tough decision. I don’t think he enjoyed destroying homes. He has ignited a sense of hope, which is good. However, while removing settlements, there must be proper management. I hope for a better future for those who had to live in the rain."
Integrity over fame
After winning the dance reality show Boogie Woogie, Kabita’s career took off, leading her to become a 'Gang Leader' on Himalaya Roadies. However, she famously walked away from a judging seat on another reality show due to a conflict of integrity.
"If a reality show decision is based 100% on public voting, what is the role of a judge’s evaluation?" she questioned. "I couldn't sit there just to occupy a chair and be on TV. If a judge's expertise isn't valued, it's better to leave."
Love, solitude, and politics
Despite living in the glamorous world of showbiz, Kabita finds peace in solitude, often retreating to the woods near her home. Regarding her personal life, she says, "I am alone, but I am not lonely. I enjoy my own company."
She prefers to keep her romantic life private. "I have loved someone to the point of forgetting my own self-respect, and that experience made me mature. Now, I want to keep my relationships private. I’ll let the world know only once I have an engagement ring on my finger!"
When asked a rapid-fire question, who is worse: a cheating lover or a lying politician? Kabita chose the latter.
"A cheating lover is better. If a lover cheats, only I am hurt. But if a leader lies, they betray the entire country. I can handle my own heartbreak, but I wouldn't want a leader to risk the lives of so many people," she concluded.
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