KATHMANDU: Former Prince Hridayendra Shah, the grandson of former King Gyanendra Shah and son of former Crown Prince Paras Shah and former Crown Princess Himani Shah, is known for his quiet presence and low public profile.

He unexpectedly entered the national conversation after actress Suraksha Panta casually suggested he should act in a film.

What began as a light-hearted comment quickly snowballed, drawing reactions from royalists and even Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli, who warned Hridayendra not to “dream of becoming king.”

In a rare move, the 22-year-old royal, currently studying for his master’s degree in Boston, took to Instagram with a composed response: “Sometimes it is more difficult to be true and real than to play a role in a film… Let’s spread kindness. Nepalis should support one another—not tear each other down.”

Hridayendra’s dignified message—free of controversy or defensiveness—was widely praised. In contrast to his father, the often-controversial former Crown Prince Paras, Hridayendra is admired for his humility and restraint. While he occasionally appears at Himani Trust events, he remains distant from politics and scandal.