The makers of ‘Hanuman Ansh’ reportedly sought spiritual guidance from Premanand Maharaj before bringing the life of revered saint Neem Karoli Baba to the big screen. While offering his blessings, the spiritual leader also issued a strong warning about the responsibility involved in portraying the life of a spiritually realised personality.Premanand Maharaj advised the filmmakers against introducing fictional or worldly elements simply to make the story more commercially appealing. He stressed that a saint’s life should be presented with sincerity and without compromising its spiritual essence.
Premanand Maharaj’s advice to the filmmakers
According to India Today, producer Anupriya Nagar approached Premanand Maharaj before taking the story of Neem Karoli Baba to audiences. During their interaction, she asked whether making a film while following a spiritual path could itself be considered a form of service.Premanand Maharaj responded by highlighting the responsibility that comes with depicting the lives of great saints. He said, “Keep in mind that following the lives of great spiritual personalities is difficult. There should be no worldliness.”He explained that audiences watching the life of a spiritual master should ideally be encouraged towards devotion, knowledge and detachment rather than being presented with unnecessary worldly elements.
Warning against adding fiction for popularity
Premanand Maharaj particularly cautioned the team against altering the saint’s story for dramatic impact or commercial success. According to his advice, the filmmakers should rely on what has genuinely been read, heard and understood about Neem Karoli Baba.He also pointed out that portraying a spiritually realised person is not simply a matter of copying their external behaviour. The inner state of such a personality, he suggested, cannot be easily replicated through performance alone.The spiritual leader advised the makers to approach the project with discipline and sincerity. He recommended spiritual practice, maintaining a sattvic lifestyle, reading about saints and spending time in the company of spiritually inclined people.
Authenticity becomes key to Neem Karoli Baba’s portrayal
Premanand Maharaj’s guidance placed the focus on authenticity rather than cinematic embellishment. His message was that even if a film does not attract a large audience, the makers should not compromise on the truth of the saint’s life.The warning assumes significance because stories based on revered spiritual figures carry a different responsibility from conventional fictional narratives. Any creative liberty, particularly if it changes the character or teachings of the saint, could alter how audiences understand the historical and spiritual figure.
‘Hanuman Ansh’ crosses Rs 50 crore
Meanwhile, ‘Hanuman Ansh’ has reportedly emerged as a strong performer despite being made on a relatively modest budget. According to industry tracker Sacnilk, the film was made at an estimated cost of around Rs 1.8 crore and has crossed the Rs 50 crore mark during its theatrical run.The film initially had a slow start before gaining momentum around its 17th day. It has continued to attract audiences and has completed 25 days in theatres.
Shobhinaw Satyaa plays Neem Karoli Baba
‘Hanuman Ansh’ features Shobhinaw Satyaa in the role of Neem Karoli Baba, while Purnima Tiwari portrays his wife, Ram Beti Sharma. The film’s reported box office performance has added further attention to the project, which attempts to bring the life and spiritual journey of Neem Karoli Baba to a wider audience.