Hanuman Ansh crosses Rs 300 crore as word of mouth turns film into a box office hit
Hanuman Ansh has crossed Rs 300 crore at the box office after a slow start. The film's team also met Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis at Varsha
PTC Web Desk: Hanuman Ansh has emerged as one of the biggest surprises at the Indian box office this year. The devotional drama, which had little buzz when it arrived in theatres last month, has now crossed the Rs 300 crore mark worldwide, helped by strong word of mouth.
The film's success has also brought attention from Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, who recently met the team at his official residence, Varsha, in Mumbai.
Devendra Fadnavis meets Hanuman Ansh team
Fadnavis shared a video of the meeting on social media. The film's team visited Varsha and sought the blessings of Ganpati Bappa.
Congratulating director Vishal Chaturvedi and the team, the Chief Minister wished them continued success.
The meeting comes as Hanuman Ansh continues its strong run in theatres despite opening to very modest numbers.
From Rs 10 lakh opening to Rs 300 crore milestone
Hanuman Ansh had a surprisingly slow beginning. The film opened with around Rs 10 lakh and managed to collect only about Rs 1.50 crore during its first two weeks.
Things changed dramatically after viewers began recommending the film. Positive reactions spread, bringing more audiences to theatres and pushing collections sharply higher. Since its fourth week, the film has reportedly earned more than Rs 60 crore net in India every week.
On its 41st day, the film added another Rs 6 crore net, taking its domestic collection to around Rs 237 crore net, or approximately Rs 280 crore gross.
With its worldwide total now crossing Rs 300 crore, the film has become the fourth-highest-grossing movie in India this year, according to the figures cited by the makers and trade tracking reports.
A spiritual journey at the heart of the film
Written and directed by Vishal Chaturvedi, Hanuman Ansh tells the story of Lakshminarayan, a young man dealing with the loss of his mother.
Searching for answers about life, death and suffering, he sets out on a spiritual journey across North India. His search eventually leads him towards a life as the spiritual figure known as Neem Karoli Baba.
The film's box office journey has been particularly notable because its success did not come from a big opening. Instead, steady audience interest and word of mouth gradually transformed it into a major theatrical performer.
What began with barely any noise around its release has now turned into one of the year's most talked-about box office stories.