Hanuman Ansh has become one of the biggest box office surprises of 2026, turning a reported ₹2 crore budget into a worldwide gross of over ₹236 crore. But the spiritual drama based on the life of Neem Karoli Baba will not represent India at the Academy Awards. Producer Namrata Singh has now shared exactly what happened, and the reason is simpler than anyone expected.
A Deadline That Slipped Away
The submission deadline for India’s official entry to the Best International Feature Film category at the Oscars was September 7, 2026. The team behind Hanuman Ansh missed it. Not because the film was rejected, and not because they decided against it. They simply did not know the process in time.
Namrata Singh, producer of the film under SacredIP Trans Media Tech, spoke to Bollywood Hungama about the situation. She explained that the team only found out about the missed window after receiving calls from people asking why the film had not been submitted.
“We missed the Oscar submission deadline [for consideration as India’s official entry for Best International Feature Film] yesterday (September 7), as it was the last day. We got calls from a thousand people ki aap ne film submit nahin ki. But we didn’t know about it. We are busy with too many things. Also, we are a really small team.”
The producer also clarified that the film was not rejected by any committee. The team simply did not file the paperwork in time. She stated that they are handling several responsibilities at once, including the film’s language rollout, overseas release logistics, and accessibility features for viewers with different needs.
“First, we have done dubbing for Telugu and then work on the rest of the languages. We are also working on accessibility so that people of different abilities can see the film. The artists and director are on tour. There’s hardly anyone in the office.”
Singh also noted that this is her first time producing a film, while Vishal Chaturvedi is a first-time writer-director. She said the team has been learning how to handle an international release while managing everything else simultaneously.
From ₹10 Lakh Opening to the ₹200 Crore Club
The Oscar miss stands out even more when you look at what Hanuman Ansh has achieved at the box office. The film released in Indian theatres on August 7, 2026, on just 250 screens. It collected a reported ₹10 lakh on its opening day. Its first two weeks were quiet, with a net haul of only ₹1.48 crore.
Then word of mouth took over. From Day 16 onwards, collections jumped sharply. The film earned a reported ₹61 crore in its fourth week and ₹90 crore in its fifth week. By its sixth weekend, it was registering its best Friday numbers yet. It out-earned big releases like Mirzapur: The Movie and Haiwaan on multiple days.
According to trade tracker Sacnilk, by Day 38 the film had collected a domestic net of ₹194.07 crore, with an India gross of ₹229.26 crore. Its overseas release on September 11 added another ₹9.50 crore, taking the worldwide gross to ₹236.50 crore.
With a budget of just ₹2 crore, Hanuman Ansh is now the smallest Indian film to enter the ₹200 crore club, beating The Kashmir Files (₹15 crore) by a wide margin. The number of screens also grew from 250 to over 2,000 as demand increased.
Telugu Release Set for September 18
The film’s reach is expanding beyond Hindi. The Telugu version of Hanuman Ansh is scheduled to release in cinemas on September 18, 2026, across Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. Acclaimed filmmaker Trivikram Srinivas is presenting the Telugu version, with distribution handled by Fortune Four Cinemas, headed by his wife Sai Soujanya.
The announcement was made on September 11, which coincided with the Mahasamadhi Day of Neem Karoli Baba. Singh confirmed to Bollywood Hungama that Telugu is currently the only dubbed version of the film, and work on other languages is yet to begin.
“Trivikram Srinivas (of Ala Vaikunthapurramuloo fame) is on board for the Telugu version.”
Overseas Release Backed by Hombale Films
After the film’s massive success in India, Hombale Films — the production house behind KGF, Kantara, and Salaar — came on board to distribute Hanuman Ansh internationally through its overseas arm, Hombale Overseas, in collaboration with local partner Phars Film.
The worldwide theatrical release took place on September 11, 2026. Hombale Films shared the announcement on social media, stating that the spiritual journey of Maharaj-ji would reach audiences across the globe.
Hanuman Ansh Gets Global Release: KGF and Kantara Makers Take Neem Karoli Baba Film Worldwide
OTT Deal Rumours Shut Down
Rumours about a ₹100 crore OTT deal for Hanuman Ansh have been circulating. Producer Ragini Sona addressed these claims directly, telling NDTV that no such offer exists.
“It’s nothing like that. It’s all rumours. Please don’t pay attention to it. Today, how many people are watching the film matters. What offer we are getting or what offer the platform is giving, nobody cares about it. We want you guys to watch the film in theatres and praise it and love it. Darshak hi prachar kar rahe hain. Aisa kabhi maine suna nahi hai aur na dekha hai. Yeh Neem Karoli Baba ka hi chamatkar hai.”
She also confirmed that the team has not finalised any OTT deal and that a collective decision on streaming is still pending. For now, the film continues its theatrical run.
The Story Behind Hanuman Ansh
Hanuman Ansh is written and directed by Vishal Chaturvedi and produced under the SWAMbhu Media Network banner. The film is based on Chaturvedi’s book Divine Detour: That Changed My Life. It follows Lakshminarayan, a young boy in pre-Independence India who leaves home after his mother’s death in search of God. His journey across northern India eventually leads to his transformation into Neem Karoli Baba, also known as Maharaj-ji.
Shobhinaw Satyaa plays the lead role of Neem Karoli Baba. The cast also includes Vihaan Shedge as the younger version of the spiritual figure, along with Chandan K Anand, Purnima Tiwari, Anil Rastogi, Gulshan Pandey, and Bhagvandas Patel.
Reports about the cast’s fees have also surfaced. Shobhinaw Satyaa was reportedly paid ₹15 lakh for the entire film and also worked as an assistant director. Chandan Anand earned ₹8 lakh, while Vihaan Shedge was paid ₹5 lakh. The makers have not officially confirmed these figures.
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Praise from the Film Industry
The film has received support from several prominent names in the industry. Actor Varun Dhawan watched the film with his mother and shared his thoughts on Instagram.
“Just go to the theatre and watch ‘Hanuman Ansh’. I just went with my mom, and it was an amazing experience. Take your parents, go with your friends. I recommend this film to everyone. No one had told me to make this video, neither had anyone called me; I just wanted to do this.”
Filmmaker Madhur Bhandarkar also praised the film, calling it a case study for Bollywood. He noted that true conviction and powerful storytelling can triumph over massive budget films.
The film’s sequel is also being planned. Producer Namrata Singh revealed that the team has always imagined Hanuman Ansh as a three-part series. The second part will focus on Kainchi Dham, while the third part will cover the international story. She also mentioned that she has reached out to some well-known devotees of Neem Karoli Baba, including Virat Kohli, Anushka Sharma, and Julia Roberts, for potential appearances.
Also Read: Small Budget, Big Returns: Why Hanuman Ansh, Obsession and Youth Are Winning at the Box Office
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