'Hanuman Ansh' crosses Rs 300 crore worldwide at box office

Spiritual film "Hanuman Ansh", based on the life and teachings of Baba Neem Karoli, has crossed the Rs 300 crore mark in worldwide gross collections, turning into a surprise box office success after a slow start.

The small-budget film, released on August 7, struggled to draw audiences during its initial weeks but has since emerged as one of the year's biggest hits.

According to trade website Sacnilk, the film earned Rs 7.41 crore on Wednesday, taking its worldwide gross to Rs 300.25 crore.

The film has collected Rs 280 crore in India and Rs 20.25 crore from overseas markets following its international release on September 11.

Written and directed by Vishal Chaturvedi, "Hanuman Ansh" retells the life of Uttarakhand's revered saint Baba Neem Karoli, whose real name was Lakshman Narayan Sharma.

Made on a budget of around Rs 2 crore, the film follows a grieving young Lakshmi Narayan who sets out on a spiritual journey in search of God after the death of his mother.

As he travels across North India seeking answers to questions of life, death and human suffering, he eventually becomes the revered Neem Karoli Baba, whose teachings of love, service and compassion attracted devotees from around the world.

The film stars Shobhinaw Satya in the lead role, along with Vihaan Shedge, Chandan K Anand, Purnima Tiwari, Anil Rastogi, Gulshan Pandey and Bhagvandas Patel.

Baba Neem Karoli was born around 1900 in a village in Uttar Pradesh's Firozabad district and died in 1973. He married at a young age before becoming a wandering hermit.

His devotees have included international and Indian public figures such as Julia Roberts, Virat Kohli and Anushka Sharma. Steve Jobs and Mark Zuckerberg have also reportedly visited his ashram at Kainchi Dham in Uttarakhand.