The official trailer for ‘Tunnel 26: The Curse Beneath the Mountain’ has been unveiled, offering a dramatic look at the Nepal-Bhutan-India film collaboration built around a catastrophic incident inside a hydropower tunnel.
The trailer was launched at a special event held at Labim Mall in Lalitpur, attended by producers, actors and technicians from Nepal and Bhutan. A 16-member Bhutanese delegation travelled to Nepal for the event.
Starring Sangay Tsheltrim, Anoop Bikram Shahi and Anna Sharma, the film is scheduled to open simultaneously in cinemas across Nepal and Bhutan on October 9, 2026, corresponding to Ashoj 23.
A Disaster Unfolds Deep Inside a Tunnel
The newly released trailer places viewers inside a hydropower tunnel in Bhutan, where a deadly incident triggers a rapidly escalating crisis.
According to the production team, ‘Tunnel 26’ is inspired by real events in Bhutan. To give the story a stronger sense of authenticity, the filmmakers did not limit production to artificial sets. Several important sequences were also filmed inside the actual tunnel connected to the inspiration behind the story.
Principal photography reportedly continued for around 100 days, reflecting the scale of the production and the demanding geographical setting.
The trailer focuses heavily on the tunnel accident and its aftermath, following characters as they confront a dangerous and increasingly uncertain situation underground. Visual effects and VFX also play a major role in shaping the film’s disaster-driven cinematic world.
Sangay Tsheltrim Announces Contribution to Nepal Flood Relief
Lead actor and producer Sangay Tsheltrim also used the trailer launch to address the devastating floods that recently caused major loss of life and property in Nepal.
Expressing his condolences to those affected, Tsheltrim announced that an amount equivalent to 25 percent of the film’s total income — representing 50 percent of his own share — would be transferred to Nepal’s Prime Minister Disaster Relief Fund.
Tsheltrim also spoke enthusiastically about the collaboration between the Nepali and Bhutanese teams and expressed confidence in the scale and technical presentation of the finished film.
Pradeep Khadka Works Behind the Camera
Nepali star Pradeep Khadka is attached to ‘Tunnel 26’ as creative producer rather than as an actor.
Speaking at the event, Khadka said he was pleased to collaborate with producer Nirvana Chaudhary as well as Bhutanese artists and technicians. He also clarified that he does not appear in the film and is involved solely on the production and creative side.
His role includes contributions to the film’s creative and artistic development.
‘Tunnel 26’ marks Khadka’s fourth production collaboration following ‘Escape’, ‘Thulo Manchhe’ and ‘Eklo’.
Nirvana Chaudhary Signals Continued Interest in Film Production
Producer Nirvana Chaudhary described the cross-border collaboration as an exciting experience and said he was happy to move forward as a partner in the project.
He recalled his father Binod Chaudhary’s involvement in film production around four decades ago and indicated that he intends to continue exploring film production himself.
For Chaudhary, the opportunity to work with teams from Nepal and Bhutan was one of the project’s major attractions.
Written and Directed by DD Kinley
‘Tunnel 26’ is written, directed and edited by DD Kinley.
The cast includes Sangay Tsheltrim, Anoop Bikram Shahi, Anna Sharma, Nidup Dorji, Deki Lhamo, Phuntshok Dhonden and Roshini Dada, among others.
The film is presented by Sangay Tsheltrim Films and Peak XV. Its production brings together Dorjigs Production led by Dorji Wangchuk, Reltic Pictures led by Prashant Kumar Gupta and Krishna Gupta, Bhutan’s DoMCIIP and director DD Kinley’s Rolling Image Pictures.
Dorji Wangchuk serves as executive producer, while Pradeep Khadka is credited as creative producer.
A Multinational Technical Team
The cross-border nature of ‘Tunnel 26’ extends to its technical crew.
Dirgha Gurung and Sangay T. Tenzing handled cinematography, while Raju Tamang serves as action director. Krishna Sharma is the production designer, Pema Lhamo is the production manager, and Bleu Tshering Dorji heads the makeup and costume department.
The film’s music and sound work was completed in Thailand. Terdsak Janpan composed the background score, while Karan Thamawong handled sound design and re-recording mixing.
Ratthakorn Tongnoon worked on dialogue editing and Foley, while Nipan Studio created the film’s visual effects.
The Nepal-side management was handled by Livents Studios Pvt. Ltd., with Santosh Kumar Karki overseeing management.
Director DD Kinley kept his comments about the finished film brief at the launch, saying audiences would be able to judge the project for themselves once it reaches cinemas.
Following the earlier teaser, the full trailer now offers a clearer look at the underground disaster, the scale of the crisis and the film’s visual approach. ‘Tunnel 26: The Curse Beneath the Mountain’ arrives in cinemas across Nepal and Bhutan on October 9.
