4 September 2026 Punjab Khabarnama Bureau : Hanuman Ansh director Vishal Chaturvedi has opened up about the film’s difficult theatrical journey, saying several people from the film industry who did not support the project when he approached them are now congratulating him after its unexpected success.
The spiritual drama, which released on August 7, started with little buzz but has gradually turned into a major sleeper hit, driven largely by word of mouth.
‘People Drove This Film’
Speaking on The Raunac Podcast, Chaturvedi recalled how the film initially struggled to retain theatrical screens.
He said Hanuman Ansh began with more than 350 shows across India, but its show count was subsequently reduced sharply as theatres prioritised bigger releases. At one point, the film’s show count reportedly fell from around 250 to just 25.
According to Chaturvedi, audiences ultimately became the driving force behind the film’s turnaround.
Industry People Started Calling After the Success
Chaturvedi said that after the film began performing strongly, several industry figures contacted him to congratulate him.
However, he pointed out that some of the same people had previously declined to help when he had approached them.
The filmmaker said he did not want to name those individuals, explaining that he had sought their support earlier but they had not helped him.
‘I Don’t Want to Name Them’
Chaturvedi specifically mentioned filmmaker Madhur Bhandarkar as one person who congratulated him despite not having been approached for support.
He said he was happy to acknowledge Bhandarkar’s gesture, while choosing not to name others who had contacted him after the film became successful.
Director Questions Bollywood’s Predictions
The filmmaker also took aim at what he described as the industry’s tendency to give unsolicited advice about what will or will not work.
Chaturvedi argued that many people in the industry themselves do not know what will succeed, yet continue to offer their opinions and advice to filmmakers.
He described the industry as being filled with “confused people” and said there are those who genuinely want to make films and others who approach filmmaking without the same level of passion.
A Film That Started With Almost No Buzz
Hanuman Ansh had a modest beginning at the box office.
The film opened with around ₹10 lakh on its first day and initially appeared unlikely to become a major theatrical success. Its fortunes changed as viewers began recommending it to others.
The film’s occupancy and screen count subsequently improved, creating an unusual trajectory in which a slow starter began gaining momentum several weeks after release.
Word of Mouth Changed Everything
Unlike large Bollywood productions that rely heavily on extensive marketing and star power, Hanuman Ansh found its audience gradually.
The film’s growing popularity was driven by audience recommendations, with viewers helping generate interest after watching it in theatres.
By the end of its fourth week, the film had reportedly earned around ₹61 crore net in India, a remarkable result compared with its ₹10-lakh opening day.
Madhur Bhandarkar Calls It a Case Study
The film has also received praise from filmmaker Madhur Bhandarkar, who called the small-budget production with a non-star cast a “crucial case study” for the Indian film industry.
Bhandarkar praised Chaturvedi’s direction and Shobhinaw Satyaa’s portrayal of Neem Karoli Baba, arguing that conviction and storytelling can overcome the advantages enjoyed by big-budget films.
Kangana Ranaut Also Praises the Film
Actor and BJP MP Kangana Ranaut has also endorsed Hanuman Ansh.
She described the film as more than a conventional movie, calling it a “satsang” and encouraging audiences to watch it in theatres.
Her endorsement added further visibility to a film that had initially received limited attention.
Sequel Already in Development
The success has also prompted the makers to plan a sequel.
Chaturvedi has confirmed that Hanuman Ansh 2 is in development, with the story expected to explore more locations connected with Neem Karoli Baba’s life, including Firozabad, Agra and Mathura.
Global Release Announced
The film’s success in India has now been followed by plans for an international release.
The makers have announced that Hanuman Ansh will be released globally on September 11, 2026, expanding the spiritual drama’s reach beyond its domestic audience.
An Unusual Bollywood Success Story
Chaturvedi’s comments underline the unusual nature of Hanuman Ansh’s journey.
The film began with limited commercial expectations, struggled to retain screens and lacked the conventional promotional machinery of a major Bollywood release. Yet audience support gradually transformed it into one of the surprise hits of the year.
For Chaturvedi, that turnaround has also provided an opportunity to reflect on the industry’s assumptions about what makes a film successful.