The box office collection of the film 'Hanuman Ansh' has crossed the ₹80 crore mark. In five days, the film is set to reach international markets; its worldwide release has already been announced. It is receiving a positive response from all quarters. However, the atmosphere wasn't always this way; the filmmakers claim they had to swallow the bitter pill of humiliation prior to its release.

What did the director say?
Vishal Chaturvedi, the director of 'Hanuman Ansh', states that the film was rejected by OTT platforms. Moreover, highly insulting language was used during the process. The director expressed his anguish while recalling those moments, noting that the rejection from OTT platforms actually motivated him even more to bring the film to the big screen.

According to Chaturvedi, he deeply disliked the manner in which his work was rejected. The language used was derogatory and revealed a specific 'narrative' held by those criticizing his work.

What did the OTT platform say?
Speaking to India TV, Vishal Chaturvedi said, "I took my story to an OTT platform, and they asked me if I had an Indian story of international caliber. I narrated the story of Maharaj-ji with such emotion that I was truly overcome."

He added, "I felt that the way they rejected it—and the language they used—was somewhat insulting. It wasn't about the rejection itself, as we face rejection all the time; we are filmmakers, after all, and have been rejected a thousand times. It was the way they spoke; I felt their minds were filled with a certain kind of 'garbage'—a specific narrative. Clearly, it was because of that narrative. In such a situation, it becomes crucial to shatter that narrative." The director further stated, "I felt a responsibility to make this film because of how India's 'saintly ethos' is perceived—especially when one occupies a position on such a massive platform. It implies that the platform isn't serving our country's interests. It became crucial for us to tell this story; that is why I was adamant about making this film."

What question was posed to Bollywood?
Amidst the film's massive box-office success, the director took the Hindi film industry to task for overlooking the extraordinary legacy of Neem Karoli Baba. He questioned why major filmmakers had never brought the story of such a significant saint to the big screen.
Vishal Chaturvedi said, "I believe telling his story is vital; the world—and our fellow Indians—ought to know how a 20th-century saint transformed the 21st century. Founders and leaders of major organizations were influenced by him; indeed, even the Apple logo was inspired by him. Why aren't you telling the story of such a remarkable figure? I want to ask Bollywood: why didn't you tell this story before I did?"

Released on August 7, the film has grossed ₹83.76 crore so far, according to data from Sacnilk. It is set for a worldwide release on September 11.

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