Actor Richa Chadha believes the success of Hanuman Ansh does not make 2026 a landmark year for content-driven Indian cinema. Despite the devotional drama’s remarkable box-office performance, she says one hit is not enough to establish a wider change in audience preferences.
In an interview with the Hindustan Times, Richa questioned what other films had performed well this year. She argued that religious and mythological stories tend to attract audiences because people across backgrounds feel comfortable watching them. She also suggested that stronger scripts and better pay for writers could help Indian cinema put content at the centre of filmmaking.
“If we are talking about Hanuman Ansh, that is a separate matter. What else has worked this year? Obsession is a Hollywood film, so we cannot compare our films with theirs. Mythological films tend to do relatively well. Whether religious or mythological, these stories are safe for everyone to watch. People are bound to watch them. It is too early to say that something good is happening,” she said.
Richa questioned whether the film’s success alone could signal a wider shift towards script-led cinema. In her view, the industry needs to invest more in writing before it can claim that content-driven films are taking the lead.
“I feel better scripts and more money for writers could take us into a phase where content-driven cinema leads the way,” she said.
Directed by Vishal Chaturvedi, Hanuman Ansh explores the life and teachings of spiritual guru Neem Karoli Baba. The film opened to a relatively quiet response but gradually gained momentum through word of mouth. Made on a budget of around ₹2 crore, it crossed ₹300 crore in India and ₹400 crore worldwide within eight weeks of its theatrical run.
The film continued to attract audiences even as major releases such as The Paradise, The Vvaan – Force of the Forest and Drishyam 3 arrived in cinemas. According to Sacnilk, its worldwide gross had reached ₹423 crore by 5 October.
Following the film’s success, the makers announced a sequel. Producer Anupriya Nagar said the team would not raise its budget to ₹20 crore simply because the first film had become a blockbuster. She said a larger budget could encourage unnecessary use of visual effects.
The film’s popularity has also prompted SonyLIV to announce a series about Neem Karoli Baba’s life. The platform has yet to reveal the cast or release date.
