Hanuman Ansh, the film based on the life of spiritual leader Neem Karoli Baba, has turned into one of the biggest surprise hits of 2026. The film has crossed Rs 150 crore in India net collections despite opening to a modest response and being made on a reported budget of only around Rs 2 crore.

The film added an estimated Rs 10.25 crore to its India net collection on Day 34, taking its total to Rs 153.13 crore. Its India gross collection has reached around Rs 180.95 crore. The latest day’s earnings were only 4.7% lower than the previous day’s Rs 10.75 crore, showing that the film continues to attract audiences even after more than a month in theatres.

That performance is a sharp turnaround from the film’s opening. Hanuman Ansh released on August 7 and earned only about Rs 10 lakh on its first day. Its first week ended with around Rs 1.08 crore, while the second week also remained relatively quiet. The film began gaining momentum later, as more viewers discovered it and positive word-of-mouth spread.

The change was particularly visible from the third week onwards. Audiences who watched the film began recommending it, helping collections rise at a time when most films normally see a steady decline after release. The film eventually expanded its theatrical presence and started recording much stronger daily numbers.

Its fifth week has been especially impressive. The film has continued to post daily collections of around Rs 10 crore on some days, something rarely seen for a movie that began with such a small opening. Its strong run has helped it move comfortably beyond the Rs 100 crore mark and now past Rs 150 crore in domestic net earnings.

Directed by Vishal Chaturvedi, Hanuman Ansh stars Shobhinaw Satyaa in the lead role as Neem Karoli Baba, with Chandan Anand also among the cast. The film focuses on the spiritual leader’s life, teachings and influence, bringing a devotional story to the big screen.

The subject appears to have played a major role in the film’s growing popularity. Instead of depending on a major Bollywood star or a large-scale commercial formula, Hanuman Ansh has built its audience around its spiritual theme and the interest surrounding Neem Karoli Baba.

The film’s financial performance has also made it stand out. With a reported production cost of around Rs 2 crore, its India net collection of more than Rs 153 crore represents an extraordinary return on investment. Its gross collection has already crossed Rs 180 crore.

The success becomes even more notable when compared with several larger Hindi releases. Hanuman Ansh has reportedly outperformed bigger films during parts of its fifth-week run, including Dhurandhar and Dhurandhar 2. Such comparisons have helped turn the film into one of the most discussed box-office stories of the year.

The movie’s journey also highlights the power of audience recommendations. It was not expected to become a major theatrical success when it first arrived. Its opening numbers were low, but the film gradually found viewers instead of disappearing from theatres.

That slow-build success has become the defining feature of Hanuman Ansh. The movie reportedly started with a limited theatrical footprint, but growing demand helped increase its shows. By its 34th day, it was still being screened across thousands of shows, underlining the level of interest it had generated.

The film has also attracted attention outside the box office. Its team recently met Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath in Lucknow following the movie’s strong theatrical performance. The meeting came as the film continued to gain attention for its portrayal of Neem Karoli Baba and its unexpected commercial success.

Veteran actor Hema Malini has also praised the film and its devotional appeal. Her comments added further attention to a movie that has largely grown through audience response rather than conventional star-driven promotion.

Another name linked to the film’s success is 21-year-old producer Anupriya Nagar. Reports say her interest in Neem Karoli Baba grew after learning about the spiritual leader’s influence on figures such as Apple co-founder Steve Jobs. Nagar has also spoken about directing a share of the film’s profits towards charitable activities.

The response to the film has also reportedly reached Neem Karoli Baba’s family and people connected with his native village. Their reaction has added another dimension to the film’s growing popularity, particularly among devotees and audiences interested in his life and teachings.

The movie’s box-office journey is unusual even by the standards of sleeper hits. A film that started with Rs 10 lakh on its opening day has now crossed Rs 150 crore in domestic net collections. Its India gross has moved close to Rs 181 crore, while the film continues to remain in theatres.

An international release is also expected to expand the film’s reach. The overseas rollout could give Hanuman Ansh another opportunity to add to its worldwide earnings after its unexpected success in India.

The film’s performance has also given faith-based cinema a fresh talking point. Its success suggests that audiences can still turn out in large numbers for stories centred on spirituality when the content connects with them.

Hanuman Ansh has therefore become much more than a small-budget Bollywood release. Its slow beginning, steady growth and strong fifth-week collections have transformed it into a major box-office success.