NEW DELHI, Sept 12: Spiritual drama “Hanuman Ansh”, inspired by the life and teachings of revered saint Neem Karoli Baba, has crossed the Rs 200 crore mark at the domestic box office, emerging as a major success despite a slow start.
Directed by Vishal Chaturvedi, the film follows Lakshminarayan, a young man devastated by the death of his mother. Seeking answers to questions surrounding God, life, death and human suffering, he sets out on a spiritual journey across North India.
His search eventually leads to his transformation into Neem Karoli Baba, whose philosophy of love, compassion and selfless service inspired thousands of people.
Actor Shobhinaw Satya plays the lead role, with Vihaan Shedge, Chandan K Anand, Purnima Tiwari, Anil Rastogi, Gulshan Pandey and Bhagvandas among the supporting cast.
According to trade-tracking website Sacnilk, the film has collected Rs 205.73 crore gross at the domestic box office, while its net collection has crossed Rs 170 crore.
The movie initially opened across 250 screens but witnessed a substantial expansion following its improving performance and positive word-of-mouth. It is now playing on around 2,000 screens across the country.
Released in Indian theatres on August 7, the film had a modest beginning, recording low collections during its first two weeks. However, its fortunes changed as audiences increasingly responded to the story and performances, helping it gain momentum at the ticket counters.
The strong theatrical run has turned the film into one of the notable surprise successes of the current box office season.