There is one movie that has silently become an emerging success this year. Released on August 7, the film Hanuman Ansh opened with little pre-release buzz and a modest opening. But through word of mouth, this biopic based on Neem Karoli Baba, a Hindu spiritual leader of profound influence, has turned into one of 2026's surprise hits, and has since crossed ₹54 crore net in India against a reported budget of around ₹2 crore.
Director and writer Vishal Chaturvedi has confirmed that this sleeper-hit biopic will get a sequel. During a recent interaction with audiences at a multiplex in Agra, Chaturvedi said that the second part will trace key chapters of Maharaji-ji’s life, beginning with his birthplace of Firozabad before moving to Agra, Mathura and other places tied to his spiritual journey.
Hanuman Ansh centres on Neem Karoli Baba, popularly known as Maharaj-ji, a spiritual figure regarded by devotees as an incarnation of Hanuman. The story follows Lakshmi Narayan, a spiritually inclined boy in pre-Independence India, who leaves home after his mother’s death in search of God, wandering through temples, forests, and villages before years of devotion and service transform him into Neem Karoli Baba.
The sequel isn't a response to the film's box office run alone. When Hanuman Ansh was officially announced on February 20, 2026, it was already conceived as the first instalment of a trilogy, based on Chaturvedi's own book 'Divine Detour'. Shobhinaw Satyaa, who plays Neem Karoli Baba in the first film, is expected to return for the sequel.
Kangana Ranaut added to the buzz surrounding the film this week, calling the film "not a movie" but “a satsang” on her Instagram Story. The film also stars Chandan Anand, Purnima Tiwari and Vihaan Shedge in key roles.
Following its run in India, Hanuman Ansh is now also headed overseas, with Hombale Films taking on its international distribution. The film releases worldwide on September 11 through Hombale Overseas, the studio announced on social media, describing the film as "a story rooted in faith" and "a journey beyond borders." The date is a deliberate one: September 11 marks the 53rd anniversary of Neem Karoli Baba's mahasamadhi.
Neem Karoli Baba’s influence extended well beyond India too, particularly among Western spiritual seekers in the 1960s and 70s. Steve Jobs travelled to India in 1974 in search of him, and Mark Zuckerberg later visited Kainchi Dham, the ashram associated with the saint, on Jobs' advice. Julia Roberts has also spoken about his influence on her spiritual life. Virat Kohli and Anushka Sharma are among the Indian celebrities who have visited Kainchi Dham too.
Hombale Films, one of India’s largest production houses, is behind franchises including K.G.F (2018), Kantara (2022), and Salaar (2023), as well as the animated hit Mahavatar Narsimha (2024). Its upcoming slate includes Salaar: Part 2 – Shouryaanga Parvam, Mahavatar Parshuram, Suriya 48, and an upcoming collaboration with Hrithik Roshan.