Hanuman Ansh has turned into an unexpected box-office success, despite facing a sharp drop in theatre shows during its initial run. Director Vishal has now opened up about the film’s difficult theatrical journey and claimed that much of the industry’s support came only after the movie began performing strongly.
Released on August 7, Hanuman Ansh reportedly started its theatrical journey with more than 350 shows across India. However, the arrival of competing films led to a major reduction in its screen and show count.
Hanuman Ansh Faced a Major Drop in Shows
According to Vishal, the film’s show count fell dramatically as theatres made room for bigger releases. Speaking on The Raunac Podcast, the director explained that the movie went from having a strong theatrical presence to being left with only a limited number of shows.
He said that the film’s show count eventually dropped from around 250 to just 25. According to him, major multiplex chains in prime locations were also hesitant to continue screening the movie.
At one point, Vishal believed that his passion project might have failed.
However, an Instagram post featuring a spiritual message gave him renewed motivation. The message essentially encouraged him to continue doing his work while leaving the outcome to a higher power.
Director Chose to Meet Audiences Directly
Instead of depending entirely on traditional promotions, Vishal and his team decided to visit theatres themselves and interact with moviegoers.
Before Independence Day, the director travelled to Surat with lead actor Shobinav Satyaa and music composer Rishi Pathak. The film had only one show scheduled at the theatre they visited.
According to Vishal, the audience’s emotional response surprised the theatre owner. Viewers reportedly hugged the team and some even became emotional after meeting them.
The director believes that experience changed the theatre owner’s perception of the film. The owner reportedly contacted other theatres, after which the number of shows began increasing.
The team then travelled to several other cities, including Vadodara and Aligarh, personally connecting with audiences and promoting the film on the ground.
Vishal claimed that in Aligarh, the first additional show of the week sold out within just 15 minutes.
Hanuman Ansh Nears Rs 75 Crore, Says Director
The film’s fortunes reportedly changed significantly after its initial struggle.
According to figures shared by Vishal, Hanuman Ansh is now approaching the Rs 75 crore mark. The director has also revealed that the movie was produced on a budget of approximately Rs 2 crore, making its reported box-office performance particularly notable.
The filmmaker has further indicated that the film is expected to receive an international release.
Vishal Says Bollywood Support Came Late
While the film eventually found an audience, Vishal feels that the Hindi film industry did not provide enough support when Hanuman Ansh was struggling to secure screens.
The director revealed that several industry figures contacted him after the movie started performing well and congratulated him on its success.
However, he pointed out that some of these same people had not responded when he had previously approached them for assistance.
Vishal chose not to name those individuals but made it clear that he remembered who had supported the project during its difficult phase.
He also mentioned filmmaker Madhur Bhandarkar among those who congratulated him, clarifying that he had never personally approached Bhandarkar for help.
“The Industry Is Filled With Confused People”
Vishal also offered a blunt assessment of the film industry. According to him, people often give advice about filmmaking despite not necessarily knowing what will succeed with audiences.
He believes the industry has two broad groups: people who genuinely have a passion for making films and those who view filmmaking simply as another opportunity to explore.
For Vishal, the success of Hanuman Ansh appears to have reinforced his belief that audience support can sometimes overcome industry expectations.
The film’s journey—from a steep fall in theatre shows to becoming a reported box-office success—has turned Hanuman Ansh into one of the more surprising theatrical stories of recent weeks.
