The success of Hanuman Ansh has now led writer-director Vishal Chaturvedi to his next spiritual project, RamBola, a film based on the life and legacy of Mahakavi Goswami Tulsidas.
The announcement was made on Monday by production banner Mahaveer Jain Films, which shared the title and details of the upcoming film on Instagram. Chaturvedi, who wrote and directed Hanuman Ansh, will also write and direct RamBola.
RamBola to explore Tulsidas' life and legacy
Mahaveer Jain Films announced the project in a joint Instagram post, introducing RamBola as the "Immortal story of Goswami Tulsidas".
The film is being produced by Mahaveer Jain, Vishal Chaturvedi, Amit Upadhyay and Raghuvendra Singh, with Mahaveer Jain Films presenting the project.
Tulsidas was a celebrated 16th-century Vaishnava saint and poet best known for his devotion to Lord Ram. He is credited with popularising the Ramayana among a wider audience through Ramcharitmanas, his retelling of the epic in the vernacular Awadhi.
The announcement continues Chaturvedi's focus on India's spiritual traditions following Hanuman Ansh, which is based on the life and teachings of Neem Karoli Baba.
Hanuman Ansh turns into an unlikely box-office success
Hanuman Ansh, starring Shobhinaw Satyaa in the lead role, has emerged as an unexpected theatrical success after opening to extremely modest numbers.
The film was released in India on August 4 and earned just ₹10 lakh on its opening day, according to Sacnilk. Its first two weeks remained particularly weak, with the film collecting only ₹1.48 crore during that period.
The turnaround began around the third week, driven by positive word of mouth and praise from audiences on social media. The film saw a major rise in collections from its 16th day onwards, transforming what initially appeared to be a struggling release into a major box-office success.
Made on a reported budget of around ₹2 crore, Hanuman Ansh subsequently crossed the ₹200 crore mark, making it the cheapest Indian film to enter the ₹200 crore club, according to reports. It also outperformed newer releases including Mirzapur: The Movie and Haiwaan at the Indian box office.
The film's strong run has continued well into its sixth week. According to the latest trade figures available, its India gross had reached around ₹205.15 crore by September 11, while its worldwide gross had crossed ₹200 crore.
The film is also expanding its reach beyond its original Hindi release and is scheduled to release in Telugu on September 18. Renowned Telugu filmmaker Trivikram Srinivas is presenting the Telugu version.
Neem Karoli Baba's teachings form the film's core
Written and directed by Chaturvedi, Hanuman Ansh is based on the life and teachings of Neem Karoli Baba, popularly known as Maharaj Ji. His devotees regard him as an incarnation of Lord Hanuman.
The film's story presents Baba as a saint who remains untouched by power, politics, ownership and praise, with his simple message forming the spiritual centre of the narrative.
The film has received praise from celebrities and political figures, with its message and spiritual themes drawing considerable attention across the country. Its unexpected commercial turnaround has also been attributed largely to strong audience response and word of mouth.
Producer Anupriya Nagar has previously spoken about the financial challenges behind the film, saying that she put her savings into the project. The film's eventual success has since turned it into one of the most striking low-budget box-office stories of the year.
The success has also opened the possibility of expanding the story into a larger franchise. Reports indicate that the makers are planning further films connected to Neem Karoli Baba's life and influence, with the proposed sequel expected to feature devotees and personalities associated with the spiritual leader.
With Hanuman Ansh continuing its remarkable theatrical run, Chaturvedi's announcement of RamBola signals a continuation of his focus on India's saints, spiritual traditions and devotional heritage.