Mumbai: Veteran actor and BJP Member of Parliament Hema Malini has lauded the phenomenal box office success of the recently released devotional drama, ‘Hanuman Ansh’. The film, which has reportedly raked in an impressive Rs 132 crore worldwide on a shoestring budget of just Rs 2 crore, is taking the domestic box office by storm, riding almost entirely on strong word-of-mouth.
Addressing the media on Wednesday, Hema Malini attributed the film’s massive commercial triumph to divine intervention. She called the success a direct blessing from Lord Hanuman and the revered spiritual leader Neem Karoli Baba, whose life and teachings form the core narrative of the movie.
“The Hanuman and Neem Karoli Baba temple is here, and I always go there. Today, I am so happy that a film has been made on them. It has become a superhit. It is Hanuman Ji’s grace, let me tell you,” the 77-year-old actor remarked.
Released in theatres on August 7, ‘Hanuman Ansh’ marks the Bollywood debut of lead actor Shobhinaw Satyaa, who portrays Neem Karoli Baba. The spiritual drama was written and directed by Dr Vishal Chaturvedi, and backed by 21-year-old first-time producer Anupriya A. Nagar.
Praising the young producer’s sheer dedication and leap of faith, Hema Malini added, “Whoever produced this film, she is a normal, simple girl. She doesn’t even know what filmmaking is. But because of her contribution, it has become so good. Everyone is eager to watch it, and I also want to watch it.”
The narrative delves into a pre-independence era story, tracing the transformational journey of a young boy named Lakshmi Narayan, who leaves his home in search of God and eventually becomes the widely worshipped Neem Karoli Baba.
The sleeper hit has not only resonated deeply with audiences but has also found immense support from the broader film fraternity. Celebrities including Preity Zinta, Varun Dhawan, Aditya Dhar, and Shreyas Talpade have openly endorsed the film. Talpade recently termed the movie’s delayed box office explosion during its third and fourth weeks as nothing short of a “miracle”, noting that its genuine emotional connection with the masses is driving the unprecedented ticket sales.
Similarly, actor Varun Dhawan shared a personal video recommending the film, stating he watched it with his mother and felt a profound connection, while Preity Zinta took to social media to urge her fans to experience the cinematic devotion on the big screen.