‘Steve Jobs’ Neem Karoli Baba Connection Led To Making Of ‘Hanuman Ansh’

India-West News Desk

MUMBAI- A college project on Steve Jobs’ connection with Neem Karoli Baba unexpectedly led 21-year-old Anupriya Nagar from an Economics degree in the UK to producing ‘Hanuman Ansh,’ a devotional drama that has become a major box-office success.

While researching how the founders of companies such as Apple and Meta developed their ideas, Nagar came across information about Jobs’ visit to Kainchi Dham and his connection with Neem Karoli Baba. The discovery surprised her: while studying a global technology pioneer, she had come across an Indian spiritual figure.

That prompted her to learn more about Neem Karoli Baba. Nagar initially considered turning her research into a book or comic book. She was 20 at the time and had no plans to enter filmmaking.

After returning to India, she happened to meet filmmaker Vishal Chaturvedi, who was making a film about Neem Karoli Baba. What began as an unexpected meeting eventually led Nagar into film production.

‘Hanuman Ansh,’ reportedly made for less than Rs 2 crore, has now crossed the Rs 100-crore mark. By its 34th theatrical day, the film had recorded an India gross of Rs 173.26 crore and an India net collection of Rs 146.61 crore, according to reported figures.

Nagar had spent three years in the UK earning a degree in Economics and was preparing to move to Switzerland for a job in the art industry. She grew up in a family of art collectors and said she had been surrounded by artists and their work, including Jagdish Swaminathan, M.F. Husain, V.S. Gaitonde and S.H. Raza. She has also held art exhibitions.

Filmmaking was never part of her career plans. Her father initially questioned how she could move into the film industry after studying Economics, but supported the decision once he learned the project was about Neem Karoli Baba. Nagar said her family is now proud of the film’s success.

The project was financed by three producers along with co-producers, Nagar said, and encountered several obstacles before moving ahead. She said the producers and co-producers are devotees of Neem Karoli Baba.

Despite the film’s financial success, Nagar said profit was never her main motivation. She wants to use the money to help underprivileged children and support charitable work, and said she had not expected the film to generate such returns.

The team is planning two more installments of ‘Hanuman Ansh,’ although their scale and budgets have yet to be decided. Discussions on the film’s OTT and satellite release are also pending.

Veteran actor and BJP MP Hema Malini has also praised the film’s success, calling ‘Hanuman Ansh’ a superhit and describing its performance as a blessing from Lord Hanuman. She singled out Nagar for backing the project despite having no previous filmmaking experience, congratulating the young producer and the entire team on the film’s reception.

Nagar also recalled meeting Premanand Maharaj after the film was shot. She said he supported making a film for a good cause but cautioned the team about the responsibility involved. His advice, she said, was to avoid unnecessary dramatization and unrealistic elements and to ensure the casting was appropriate.

What began with Nagar’s curiosity about Steve Jobs’ connection with Neem Karoli Baba has taken an unexpected turn. The 21-year-old, who had been preparing for a career in the art industry, is now behind a film that has crossed the Rs 100-crore mark at the box office. (With IANS Inputs)