Hanuman Ansh: Producer says no budget boost for sequel despite Rs 400 crore success

Producer Anupriya Nagar has said the Hanuman Ansh sequel will be made on a budget similar to the first film unless the story demands more. She said authenticity matters more than bigger spending and warned against unnecessary VFX or AI.

In Short

• Hanuman Ansh sequel likely to have similar budget as original
• Producer Anupriya Nagar prioritises story-driven spending
• First film made on Rs 2 crore, earned Rs 400 crore worldwide

Following the massive success of Hanuman Ansh, producer Anupriya Nagar has revealed whether the film’s sequel will get a significant budget boost. Despite the first film being made on a reported budget of just Rs 2 crore and going on to cross Rs 400 crore worldwide, Nagar says the team is not looking to spend more simply because the first installment was a blockbuster.

In an interview with Dainik Bhaskar, Nagar explained that her approach to the sequel’s budget is straightforward: the second film will be made on a similar budget unless the story genuinely demands a larger investment.

“My thinking is very clear: I believe the second film should be made on a budget similar to the first. Simply investing Rs 10 crore or Rs 20 crore would not necessarily make the film better. It could even lead to unnecessary use of VFX or AI, which the story may not require, and that could affect its authenticity,” she said.

The producer stressed that authenticity will remain the priority while making the sequel, particularly because of the period in which the story is set. According to Nagar, increasing the budget only makes sense if the story itself requires it.

“In the period we are depicting, the characters are not the only important element. The landscape, visual texture, atmosphere and the world of that time are equally important. That is why authenticity is our priority. The audience has given us so much love and support, so we cannot spend money wastefully. Of course, if the next story genuinely requires a larger budget, we will increase it,” she added.

Hanuman Ansh, directed by Vishal Chaturvedi, is a biographical film based on the life of Neem Karoli Baba. The film stars Shobhinaw Satyaa and Chandan Anand in the lead roles, with Anil Rastogi, Purnima Tiwwari, Sugandha Malhotra, Bhagvandas Patel and Neha Paranjpe in supporting roles.

The film follows the early life of Lakshmi Narayan, a young boy in pre-Independence India who leaves home after his mother’s death in search of God. It traces his journey across northern India and his eventual transformation into Neem Karoli Baba.

Made on a modest budget, Hanuman Ansh has emerged as a major theatrical success, crossing Rs 400 crore worldwide and continuing its run even after 50 days.

Hanuman Ansh released in theatres on August 7 and opened to a slow box-office start, collecting just Rs 10 lakh on Day 1. However, the film gained momentum in its second week as positive word-of-mouth drew more audiences to theatres. Since then, it has gone on to collect Rs 414 crore worldwide and over Rs 300 crore net in India. Riding on the film’s success, the makers have now announced a sequel.

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