Archive · 3 Sep 2026
Hanuman Ansh director details film’s rise after shows fell
Hanuman Ansh is a film about Neem Karoli Baba.
It started with many theatre shows but soon had far fewer.
The director worried that the movie had failed.
He and his team visited theatres and met audiences to promote it.
People reacted warmly, and theatre owners began adding more shows.
The film then earned much more money and became a sleeper hit.
The director said Bollywood people did not help when he asked them to.
He also said both inexpensive films and very large films can be successful.
Hanuman Ansh opened on August 7 with more than 350 shows across India.
Its show count reportedly fell to 25 during the first week as theatres prioritized bigger releases.
Director Vishal Chaturvedi and his team promoted the film directly in cities, theatres and temples.
The Neem Karoli Baba film later saw a major box-office jump and is preparing for international release.
Vishal said Bollywood did not support the film, while stressing that both small- and big-budget films need space.
- Who
- Director and co-producer Vishal Chaturvedi, lead actor Shobinav Satyaa, and the Hanuman Ansh team.
- What
- Hanuman Ansh recovered after its theatre shows fell sharply and later achieved a strong box-office run.
- When
- The film released on August 7; its major increase in shows and collections came after its first week and during its fourth week.
- Where
- Across India, with promotion visits including Surat, Vadodara and Aligarh.
- Why
- The director attributed the turnaround to direct audience support and the team’s grassroots promotion, after theatres reduced shows and Bollywood contacts did not provide the requested help.
Director’s perspective
Theatrical and big-budget perspective
Why shows were reduced
Director’s perspective
Vishal Chaturvedi said Hanuman Ansh’s show count was cut from about 250 to 25 and that Bollywood contacts did not help when he requested support.
Theatrical and big-budget perspective
The article says theatres with major films scheduled prioritized those releases, while multiplexes including PVR and Cinepolis were skeptical about running Hanuman Ansh in prime locations.
Small films versus large films
Director’s perspective
Vishal argued that a film made for about Rs 2 crore can succeed and that audiences should give smaller films space.
Theatrical and big-budget perspective
He also acknowledged that large-scale films require substantial budgets and that unsuccessful big productions can cause significant losses, arguing that both types should coexist.
Audience connection and violence
Director’s perspective
Vishal said emotional connections between scenes are central and praised films when violence is necessary to support the story.
Theatrical and big-budget perspective
He argued that unnecessary violence can be removed and cited Hanuman Ansh’s lack of physical violence and U certificate, while saying a spy film may require violence.
- Film
- Hanuman Ansh, about Neem Karoli Baba
- Release date
- August 7
- Initial shows
- More than 350 across India
- Lowest reported show count
- 25 during the first week
- Reported budget
- Rs 2 crore, according to Vishal Chaturvedi
- Box-office status
- The article describes the film as nearing Rs 75 crore while also reporting that it is on course to cross Rs 100 crore
- International release
- The film is preparing for an international release