Hanuman Ansh, the low-budget devotional drama based on the life of Neem Karoli Baba, has crossed ₹220 crore at the Indian box office. Actor Sonu Sood has now shared his thoughts on the film’s phenomenal run, calling it a clear sign that audiences value stories that connect with the soul far more than big budgets or star power. The film, made on a reported budget of just ₹1.8 to ₹2 crore, has become one of the most profitable Indian films in recent memory.
Sonu Sood Says Content Is the Real Star
Sonu Sood spoke to NDTV during the Ganpati celebrations at his Mumbai home, where the conversation turned to the unexpected success of Hanuman Ansh. The actor did not hold back his appreciation for what the film has achieved.
“I am very happy that a film like Hanuman Ansh is doing so well. Apart from the blessings, it also proves that it’s not about budgets, faces or actors or the marketing. It’s about the content that works, something that connects with the soul.”
Sood went a step further and framed the film’s performance as a lesson the industry cannot afford to ignore. He pointed out that Bollywood often leans too heavily on scale, glamour, and star power, sometimes forgetting what truly brings people to theatres.
“So I think it’s high time we make films not just for the glamour but stories that can connect to the people, that they can relate to. I think that is what the biggest learning from Hanuman Ansh.”
The actor’s remarks carry weight because he has spent years working across big-budget productions and independent projects alike. For him, the film’s run is not a one-off miracle but a signal that audience tastes are shifting.
A Box Office Journey Unlike Any Other
What makes the success of Hanuman Ansh so striking is how quietly it began. The film released in theatres on August 7, 2026, with almost no fanfare. It earned just ₹10 lakh on its opening day and collected a modest ₹1.08 crore in its entire first week. The second week was even slower, adding only ₹40 lakh to the total.
Everything changed in the third week. Positive word of mouth spread rapidly across social media, and audiences began turning up in large numbers. The film earned ₹10.4 crore in week three alone. On Day 24, it collected ₹12.75 crore — more than its entire first two weeks combined.
The momentum never slowed down. By Day 38, the film had earned ₹214.63 crore net in India. On Day 39, it added another ₹8.25 crore, taking its total India net collection to ₹222.88 crore. Overseas, the film collected ₹2 crore on Day 39, pushing its worldwide gross to ₹279.80 crore.
The film’s profitability is staggering. Against a production budget of around ₹2 crore, it has generated roughly 140 times its cost. For comparison, Dangal earned about 30 times its budget, while Baahubali 2 managed around seven times.
The Story Behind Neem Karoli Baba
Hanuman Ansh is written, directed, and produced by Vishal Chaturvedi under his banner Swambhu Media Network. The film is based on Chaturvedi’s book Divine Detour: That Changed My Life, which chronicles the life and teachings of Neem Karoli Baba, a revered spiritual guru also known as Maharaj Ji.
The story follows Lakshmi Narayan, a young boy growing up in pre-Independence India. After his mother’s death, he leaves home in search of God. His journey across northern India eventually leads to his spiritual transformation into Neem Karoli Baba.
Shobhinaw Satyaa plays the lead role of Neem Karoli Baba, with Chandan Anand appearing as Ram Nandan Bhosale. The supporting cast includes Anil Rastogi, Nikhil Dubey, Bhagvandas Patel, Neha Paranjpe, and Udaysinh Rajput.
This is Vishal Chaturvedi’s first feature film as a director. Before filmmaking, he worked across content creation, research, and even cooking for nearly 14 years.
A Film That Overcame Every Obstacle
The road to success was far from smooth. Chaturvedi has spoken openly about how OTT platforms rejected the film before it even reached cinemas. He described the rejection as “derogatory” and revealed that he was advised to skip a theatrical release altogether.
Despite the setbacks, the team pushed forward with a campaign built on faith and community. The makers organised bhandaras — community meals — instead of traditional promotional events. The film’s sets also followed a strict code of conduct: no arguing, no alcohol, only vegetarian food, and daily recitations of the Hanuman Chalisa before and after shooting.
Actor Shobhinaw Satyaa has said that reciting the Hanuman Chalisa became a way of solving problems on set. “Every time we had a problem on set, we would recite Hanuman Chalisa,” he recalled.
Bollywood Rallies Behind the Film
Sonu Sood is not the only industry figure who has spoken up about Hanuman Ansh. Several well-known names have publicly praised the film and urged audiences to watch it in theatres.
Varun Dhawan watched the film with his mother and shared an emotional video praising the experience. He described it as “divine” and specifically praised Shobhinaw Satyaa’s performance.
Kangana Ranaut called the film a “satsang” rather than a conventional movie. “Skip your therapy and go watch it,” she told her followers on Instagram.
Hema Malini attributed the film’s success to divine grace. “There is a temple of Hanuman ji and Neem Karoli Baba here. I always visit here, and today I am very happy that a film has been made about them and it has become a superhit,” she said.
Aditya Dhar, Madhur Bhandarkar, and Shreyas Talpade have also expressed their appreciation for the film.
Tax-Free Status and a Global Release
The film’s impact has reached beyond the box office. Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami announced that Hanuman Ansh would be made tax-free in the state, recognising its spiritual and cultural significance.
The film also began its international theatrical release on September 11, 2026, through Hombale Films. This gave the devotional drama a chance to reach audiences beyond India, and its overseas collections have been steadily growing since.
A Sequel Is Already in the Works
With the film still running strong in theatres, director Vishal Chaturvedi has confirmed that Hanuman Ansh 2 is already in development. The sequel will explore more chapters from Neem Karoli Baba’s life, with a focus on his time at Kainchi Dham. A third instalment is also being planned, which may take the story to international shores.
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No OTT Release Date Yet
Despite the film’s massive theatrical success, there is still no confirmed OTT release date. Hindi films generally follow an eight-week gap between their theatrical and digital premieres, which means the earliest possible streaming debut would be around mid-October 2026. Producer Ragini Sona has dismissed reports of a ₹100 crore OTT deal, calling them rumours. “We want you guys to watch the film in theatres, and praise it and love it,” she said.
For now, Hanuman Ansh continues to draw audiences to theatres, proving that a story rooted in faith and emotion can outperform even the biggest star vehicles. Sonu Sood’s words capture the moment well — this is a film that succeeded because it connected with something deeper than spectacle.
Stay tuned to VvipTimes for more updates on the films everyone is talking about.
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