Writer-director Vishal Chaturvedi has revealed that the sets of Hanuman Ansh followed a strict set of rules rooted in spirituality and discipline while filming the story of Neem Karoli Baba. From prohibiting abusive language, loud arguments and fights to keeping non-vegetarian food and alcohol completely off the sets, Chaturvedi ensured that the atmosphere remained aligned with the film’s spiritual core. He also revealed that the team would begin every shooting day with the Hanuman Chalisa and, whenever possible, end the day with it as well. According to him, the ritual often helped the team overcome the challenges they faced during the shoot.
Chaturvedi recalled that despite having a 7 am shift, there were times when the camera would not roll until much later because of various issues on set. During such moments, the team would turn to the Hanuman Chalisa. He believes that somewhere, the prayers helped ease the problems they were facing.
For Chaturvedi, the practice was also deeply connected to Maharaj Ji’s teachings, as Neem Karoli Baba never took credit for the good that happened around him and always directed people towards Lord Hanuman and Lord Ram. His message, according to the filmmaker, was centred around devotion, seva, feeding the hungry and spreading the name of Ram.
That philosophy also shaped the film’s promotional strategy. Chaturvedi revealed that when the campaign began, the team was not thinking about conventional marketing or simply telling audiences to come and watch their film. Instead, they wanted the campaign to revolve around Maharaj Ji’s message. The team organised eight Bade Mangal bhandaras and distributed food, attempting to put the idea of seva into practice rather than merely promoting it through advertisements.
Chaturvedi believes that this approach helped audiences connect with the film organically and gave them a sense that the team was genuinely trying to follow the message at the heart of Hanuman Ansh.
The approach has now coincided with an extraordinary theatrical run. Reportedly made on a budget of around Rs 2 crore, Hanuman Ansh opened at just Rs 0.10 cr but steadily grew through strong word of mouth. By Day 28, the film had reportedly reached around Rs 72.88 crore net in India, while Day 29 figures have taken its India net collection to approximately Rs 82.88 crore.
The film has emerged as one of 2026’s biggest sleeper successes, with its low-budget spiritual subject finding a strong connect with audiences despite its modest opening.
