Nepal, Sept. 1 -- Lex Limbu has just arrived from the premiere of Xira, a film starring his close friend Namrata Shrestha. The film is unique, he says, as Shrestha plays an MMA fighter. He's generous with his praise, but he touches upon one aspect of the film that he's found interesting.

"It breaks stereotypes in a subtle way, like when the female character comes home, her husband is the one making dinner," he says, perusing the menu at the new Chimes restaurant in Sanepa. "It's nice, but it's so sad that we have to be happy with that."

That gradual progression in sensibilities, not just in popular culture but also in broader society, is what Limbu himself has been fighting for. The changes he wants might seem big, but they're really no...