Rajesh Hamal

Before entering the film industry, Hamal modeled for a magazine in India named Fashion Net whilst studying at University of Delhi.[6] He appeared in a fashion show organised by the Indian Embassy Women Association in the late 1980s.[6]

Hamal's first starring role was set to be in Bhagya Rekha (1987) opposite Karishma Manandhar. Later, Manandhar left the project, which led Kristi Mainali to join the project. After Mainali joined the filming began, however, after the film director Deepak Rayamajhi was rumored to suspect an affair between the lead actors, which led two of the lead actors to leave the project. Both were replaced by Rabindra Khadka and Mausami Malla. After the film's release, it became a blockbuster; the film also led the film director Deepak Rayamajhi to become a credible film director in the early Nepali cinema industry.

The affair between Kristi Mainali and Hamal became highly popular throughout Nepal, and after Deepak Rayamajhi's successful film directing debut, he signed Mainali and Hamal into his next project titled Yug Dekhi Yug Samma (1988).[9] The film follows two young couples who are amidst the pressure of their family rivalries. In addition to the lead actors' debut, it was also the film producer Chhabiraj Ojha, and action director Rajendra Khadgi's film debut too. Hamal later told Teenz, "Actually somewhere inside I always wanted to act. More than acting, I was fascinated by films. I wanted something in the field, but I did not know how to begin. Luckily, my cousin was a part of the film industry and he offered me a role. That was in 1987, and at that time. I did not know I would be doing films for the next 20 years".[10] After the success of the film, it was later remade with the same title in 2009, directed by Dipendra K Khanal, and the film starred Nandita K.C., and Hamal in the lead roles.

In 1991, Hamal joined up with Tulsi Ghimire for the first time, in his directorial film project called Deuta.[11] The film starred Hamal in the lead role, while the film also starred Shrawan Ghimire, Srijana Basnet, and Tulsi Ghimire in the supporting roles. Upon the film's release, it became a super hit at the box office of Nepal. The film is also considered the film that launched his stardom in the Nepali film industry.[12] The Kathmandu Post wrote, "Incidentally, this was also the film that catapulted Hamal into stardom and while that alone could place Deuta in a Kollywood Hall of Fame (if such a thing existed), the movie is much more than that".[13]

In 2000, Hamal was cast in actor Neer Shah's directorial film titled Basanti (2000). In the film Hamal portrayed the role of Gagan Singh Khawas, alongside Hamal appeared with Karishma Manandhar, Gauri Malla, and Divya Dutta. The film is based on the novel of the same written by Diamond Shumsher Rana. Hamal considers his favourite film to be Deuta (1991), and Basanti (2000). Bijaya Adhikari of OnlineKhabar wrote, "However, filmmakers like Nir Shah, one of the forerunners of the historical period drama genre, has been consistently making successful films in the genre like Basanti, Masaan and Seto Bagh."[14] Rachana Chettri, and Preena Shrestha of The Kathmandu Post also wrote, "Cinematographically, the film achieves its purpose of bringing the old palaces and courtyards populated by royals and their supporters back to life."[15]

Then in 2004, Hamal appeared in a Shiva Regmi directorial film named Hami Tin Bhai (2004). The film starred an ensemble cast of Shree Krishna Shrestha, Nikhil Upreti, Jharana Thapa, Nandita K.C., and Rekha Thapa.[16] In 2018 it was announced the sequel of the film.

However, Rajesh Hamal did not restrict his career to only movies. He as well started appearing on Television shows and advertisements in 2004. A popular Nepalese show called Wai Wai Quiz Whiz is his first-ever television appearance. He also had a guest appearance on Miss Angel Program in the same year. In the early 2000s, Hamal got endorsed by various companies to star in advertisements, and commercials, as well as he was discerned alongside numerous products comprising steel, soap, investment company, bank as well as cement. However, his focus on cinema and appearing on them was always intact. He also endorses the first bike which is made in Nepal called Cosmic Ying Yang and he has also been a face of NMB bank, Indica Easy, Global College of Management.

Rajesh Hamal also been seen on various music videos including Malingo, Hajur Mussukai and Shailung by Bikas Rana directed by Nitin Chand

Hamal has twice been judge for Miss Nepal, once in 1997 with Kamal Rupakheti, Laxmi Keshari Manandhar, and Sanjaya Agarwal, the event was won by Jharana Bajracharya.[17] After 10 years later he was the chief judge of Miss Nepal 2007,[18] he judged alongside Malvika Subba, and Bhusan Dahal, the event was won by Sitashma Chand.[19] In 2019, he was hosting the Nepali version of Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?.[20]