At just 21, Anupriya Nagar has taken an unconventional route into the film industry. An economics student who studied at the University of Bath in the UK, Nagar has now made her feature-film production debut with Hanuman Ansh, a spiritual drama inspired by the life and teachings of Neem Karoli Baba.
What makes her debut particularly striking is the film’s unexpected theatrical journey. Hanuman Ansh opened in cinemas on August 7 with a reported first-day collection of around Rs 10 lakh. By September 2, the film had recorded an India gross of approximately Rs 72.32 crore, while its India net collection stood at around Rs 61.38 crore, according to figures reported by industry tracker Sacnilk.
The film was reportedly made on a budget of around Rs 2 crore, with some reports putting the figure closer to Rs 1.8 crore. However, box-office gross should not be treated as equivalent to producer profit, as theatrical revenue is divided among various stakeholders, including exhibitors, distributors and producers.
For Nagar, the film marks a remarkable transition from economics and university life to feature-film production.
Who is Anupriya Nagar?
Born in Mumbai, Anupriya Nagar later moved to the UK to pursue economics at the University of Bath. Her public profiles describe her as an economist, artist and film producer.
Her creative interests began much earlier. Nagar reportedly started exhibiting her artwork when she was just 12 and later became involved in student-led art, dance and business organisations during her time at Bath.
She was associated with the Women in Business Society and took on leadership responsibilities in student activities. Her academic interests have also included research around innovative ecosystem banking.
Her entry into filmmaking, therefore, did not come through the traditional route of an aspiring actor, director or film-school graduate. Instead, the idea for Hanuman Ansh emerged while she was still studying economics.
How Steve Jobs led Anupriya Nagar to Neem Karoli Baba
The connection between economics, Steve Jobs and Neem Karoli Baba played an important role in the origins of Hanuman Ansh.
In an interview, Nagar explained that she encountered the subject while working on a university assignment connected to investment and banking. As part of her research, she studied Steve Jobs not simply as a technology entrepreneur but also as a thinker.
That research eventually led her to information about Jobs’ well-known interest in spirituality and his association with Neem Karoli Baba.
The discovery prompted Nagar to investigate the Indian spiritual figure more closely. What began as academic research gradually developed into the idea for a feature film.
Rather than focusing only on the often-repeated story connecting Jobs with Neem Karoli Baba, Nagar wanted to explore the spiritual figure’s wider influence and understand why his life continued to resonate with people outside India.
Her stated ambition was to introduce the story to a younger and potentially international audience through cinema.
Anupriya Nagar’s research before making Hanuman Ansh
According to Nagar, the team spent roughly a year researching the subject before moving forward with the film.
The research reportedly involved travelling to locations associated with Neem Karoli Baba and speaking with people who had known him or spent time with him. Places connected with the spiritual figure, including Chitrakoot and Vrindavan, were also explored during the process.
That research became the foundation for a film that attempts to present the spiritual journey of Neem Karoli Baba rather than simply reproduce familiar anecdotes about his life.
The production was mounted under Swambhu Media Network, with publicly available credits listing Anupriya Nagar alongside Ragini S, Namrata G Singh and director Vishal Chaturvedi as producers.
What is Hanuman Ansh about?
Written and directed by Vishal Chaturvedi, Hanuman Ansh draws inspiration from the life of Neem Karoli Baba.
The story follows Lakshman Das from his early years through his spiritual journey and eventual transformation into Neem Karoli Baba.
The makers have positioned the film as a spiritual story rather than a conventional, fact-by-fact biographical account.
The cast includes Shobhinaw Satyaa and Chandan Anand in prominent roles, along with Vihaan Shedge, Purnima Tiwari, Anil Rastogi and others.
How Shobhinaw Satyaa became Neem Karoli Baba
One of the more unusual casting stories surrounding Hanuman Ansh involves its lead actor.
Shobhinaw Satyaa was reportedly working as the film’s second assistant director when the actor initially selected for the central role became unwell.
Director Vishal Chaturvedi subsequently tested Satyaa for several hours before deciding that he was suitable for the role of Neem Karoli Baba.
The unexpected casting decision eventually placed Satyaa at the centre of the film and became another distinctive part of the production’s story.
Hanuman Ansh box office: From a slow start to a major turnaround
The film’s theatrical performance has been particularly striking because of its modest opening.
According to Sacnilk figures cited in reports, Hanuman Ansh began its theatrical run on August 7 with approximately Rs 10 lakh on Day 1. Its first week reportedly ended at around Rs 1.08 crore.
The second week remained relatively subdued, with the film adding approximately Rs 40 lakh.
At that stage, there was little indication from the daily collections that the film was heading towards a substantial theatrical run.
The picture changed dramatically during the third week.
The film reportedly collected around Rs 10.40 crore during its third week, with a significant jump in collections around Day 16 and Day 17. According to the reported figures, the movie crossed the Rs 2 crore mark in a single day on Day 17.
Hanuman Ansh sees a sharp fourth-week jump
The film’s momentum became even more pronounced during its fourth week.
As per Sacnilk’s reported figures, Hanuman Ansh collected approximately:
- Day 22: Rs 6.25 crore
- Day 23: Rs 9.25 crore
- Day 24: Rs 12.75 crore
- Day 25: Rs 5.50 crore
- Day 26: Rs 8.50 crore
- Day 27: Rs 7.25 crore
By Day 27, the reported India net collection stood at around Rs 61.38 crore, while the India gross figure reached approximately Rs 72.32 crore, based on Sacnilk data reported on September 2, 2026.
The numbers represent a dramatic shift from the film’s modest opening and have made Hanuman Ansh one of the more unexpected theatrical performers of 2026.
Anupriya Nagar’s unusual journey from economics to cinema
Anupriya Nagar’s story stands apart from the conventional paths often associated with young film producers.
Her background in economics, interest in art and university research eventually converged in a project inspired by an Indian spiritual figure. What began as research for an academic exercise ultimately became the foundation for her debut feature production.
The response to Hanuman Ansh has now given that unconventional career transition an unexpected box-office chapter. At 21, Nagar has moved from university studies in the UK to being associated with a feature film that has generated significant theatrical attention.
Whether Hanuman Ansh can sustain its remarkable run further remains to be seen, but its journey has already made Anupriya Nagar a name to watch among a new generation of young film producers.
