A spiritual figure who died more than five decades ago is now back in the spotlight because of a Bollywood film. Hanuman Ansh, directed by Vishal Chaturvedi, tells the story of Neem Karoli Baba, also known as Maharaj-ji, and his devotion to Lord Hanuman.
The film opened quietly on 7 August 2026 with limited screens but later turned into an unexpected box-office success. Made for less than Rs. 2 crore, it crossed Rs. 100 crore in India during its fifth weekend, according to NDTV.
But who exactly was Neem Karoli Baba, and why did his life become the subject of a film decades after his death?
Who Was Neem Karoli Baba?
Neem Karoli Baba was a Hindu spiritual teacher and a devotee of Lord Hanuman. His birth name was Lakshman Narayan Sharma, and he was born around 1900 in Akbarpur, Uttar Pradesh. He later became known to followers as Maharaj-ji.
Accounts of his early life describe him as coming from a Brahmin family. He was married at a young age and eventually had two sons and a daughter. According to biographical accounts, he left home as a young man to live as a wandering sadhu, later returning to family life at his father's request.
His life therefore did not follow the usual image of a religious renunciant. He experienced both family life and years of wandering before becoming known as Neem Karoli Baba.
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From Lakshman Sharma To Maharaj-ji
Neem Karoli Baba's spiritual journey took him across North India. He spent years travelling as a sadhu and gradually attracted devotees around him.
His teachings focused on love, compassion, devotion and selfless service. Instead of building his public image around long philosophical lectures or written works, his influence spread largely through personal interactions and the accounts of his followers.
The Kainchi Dham ashram in Uttarakhand became closely associated with him. The ashram was established in 1964 and included a Hanuman temple. A second major centre developed around his Vrindavan ashram.
Stories about miracles and unusual incidents have long formed part of Neem Karoli Baba's legacy. These stories were largely passed down by devotees, so they are best understood as accounts associated with his followers rather than independently verified events.
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How Did His Influence Reach Outside India?
One of the biggest reasons Neem Karoli Baba became known internationally was his connection with American spiritual seekers.
American psychologist Richard Alpert, later known as Ram Dass, travelled to India and met Neem Karoli Baba in the 1960s. Ram Dass later wrote about his experiences in Be Here Now, helping introduce Baba's teachings to a much wider audience.
His name was also later associated with Steve Jobs and Mark Zuckerberg.
Jobs travelled to India in 1974 hoping to meet Neem Karoli Baba, but Baba had died the previous year. Jobs still spent months travelling through India and visiting ashrams. Zuckerberg later recalled visiting Kainchi Dham during a difficult period for Facebook, after Steve Jobs had suggested the trip.
Hollywood actor Julia Roberts has also spoken publicly about being drawn to Neem Karoli Baba after seeing his photograph.
Why Did Filmmakers Choose His Story?
For director Vishal Chaturvedi, Neem Karoli Baba's life offered more than a conventional spiritual biography.
Hanuman Ansh follows his journey from childhood and his early spiritual awakening to his transformation into the figure devotees came to know as Neem Karoli Baba. The film focuses on his devotion to Hanuman and his emphasis on love, compassion and service.
The timing also helped bring a relatively lesser-known chapter of modern Indian spiritual history to a younger audience.
The film's success has added another layer to that story. It initially opened on only 25 screens and earned around Rs. 10 lakh on its first day. Its fortunes changed from the third week, and by its fourth week it had collected Rs. 61 crore. It eventually crossed Rs. 100 crore in India during its fifth weekend.
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Who Is Shobhinaw Satyaa?
The most unusual part of the film's casting story involves Shobhinaw Satyaa.
Satyaa did not initially join Hanuman Ansh as its lead actor. He entered the project as the second assistant director, arriving two days after pre-production had begun. According to director Vishal Chaturvedi, his resemblance to Neem Karoli Baba immediately caught the team's attention.
The situation changed when the actor originally chosen to play Baba became unwell.
Chaturvedi then considered Satyaa for the role. He took him to Chitrakoot Ghat for an audition that lasted more than four hours. The director said Satyaa eventually got a particular scene right and that he did not need to test him further.
Satyaa also had qualities the filmmakers considered important for the role. Chaturvedi said he was vegetarian, did not drink and did not abuse, while also being personally connected to Hanuman bhakti. The entire film set was kept vegetarian during the shoot.
That unexpected casting decision turned an assistant director into the face of a film that went from a 25-screen release to a Rs. 100-crore theatrical run.
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Neem Karoli Baba's Final Years
Neem Karoli Baba spent the later part of his life closely associated with Kainchi Dham. He died on 11 September 1973 in Vrindavan after falling ill while travelling back from Agra. His death marked the end of his physical life, but not the growth of his following.
More than 50 years later, his story has moved from ashrams and books into mainstream cinema.
And perhaps that is the most interesting part of Hanuman Ansh: the film is not introducing a new spiritual figure. It is introducing an old one to a new generation.
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TL;DR | News At a Glance
Who was Neem Karoli Baba?
Neem Karoli Baba, born Lakshman Narayan Sharma, was a Hindu spiritual teacher and devotee of Lord Hanuman who became closely associated with Kainchi Dham.
What was his family background?
He came from a Brahmin family, married young and had two sons and a daughter. He also spent periods of his life as a wandering sadhu.
Why is he famous globally?
His influence spread internationally through disciples such as Ram Dass. His legacy was also later associated with figures including Steve Jobs and Mark Zuckerberg.
Why was a film made about him?
Hanuman Ansh explores his life, spiritual journey, devotion to Hanuman and teachings around love, compassion and selfless service.
Who plays Neem Karoli Baba in Hanuman Ansh?
Shobhinaw Satyaa plays the role. He originally joined the film as the second assistant director before being chosen for the lead role.
How successful is Hanuman Ansh?
The film, made for less than Rs. 2 crore, crossed Rs. 100 crore in India during its fifth weekend after initially releasing on only 25 screens.
