‘Hanuman Ansh’ has emerged as one of the surprise success stories at the box office after beginning its theatrical run with little publicity.
The devotional drama, centred on the life and spiritual journey of Neem Karoli Baba, initially opened quietly on August 7. However, strong audience word of mouth gradually helped the film attract more viewers and push its collections past the ₹200 crore mark.
The film is now preparing for a Telugu release, with filmmaker Trivikram Srinivas coming on board as its presenter.
Trivikram’s wife’s production banner, Fortune Four Cinemas, has announced that the Telugu version will reach theatres in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana on September 18.
Written and directed by Vishal Chaturvedi, ‘Hanuman Ansh’ chronicles the life of Lakshman Das and his transformation into the spiritual figure popularly known as Neem Karoli Baba, or Maharaj-ji.
The narrative follows his journey from his teenage years through the stages of his spiritual evolution and eventual emergence as a revered spiritual leader.
Shobhinaw Satyaa, Chandan Anand, Purnima Tiwari and Vihaan Shedge headline the film. Chaturvedi, who trained as a doctor before moving into filmmaking, has directed the project.
The movie was reportedly produced on a modest budget of around ₹2 crore. Despite its limited initial promotion, its reception among audiences has transformed it into a major commercial success.
The film has reportedly crossed ₹200 crore in net domestic collections and is expected to move towards the ₹250 crore milestone soon.
Several celebrities have also spoken publicly about the film. Actor Varun Dhawan encouraged audiences to watch it after seeing the movie with his mother, describing the experience as deeply spiritual and urging viewers to take their parents and friends to theatres.
Preity Zinta, Kangana Ranaut, Aditya Dhar and Madhur Bhandarkar are among the other personalities who have expressed appreciation for the film.
The Telugu release will now determine whether the devotional drama can reproduce its unexpected success in another major South Indian market.
