As Hanuman Ansh continues its remarkable theatrical run and crosses the Rs150 crore mark, writer-director Vishal Chaturvedi has opened up about the unusual and deeply focused process that went into bringing the life and teachings of spiritual leader Neem Karoli Baba to the screen. Unlike the largely digital writing process followed today, Chaturvedi chose to completely disconnect while working on the film. “I removed all digital devices from my room,” he revealed, explaining how he relied entirely on pen and paper to write the story without distractions.
Chaturvedi revealed that he had always been clear about making a film based on the story and spent considerable time putting together his research, references and ideas. “I used to write everything by hand. Later, I would send snapshots of my handwritten pages to my assistants, and they would convert them into digital copies,” he shared. The writer-director believes this approach helped him remain completely immersed in the story and write with greater focus. He also credited his producers for giving him the patience and creative freedom to follow his process, rather than rushing the writing.
Interestingly, while the complete story came together remarkably quickly, Chaturvedi spent nearly 45 days on the very first scene. “I am very particular about the first scene because it establishes the narrative and sets the direction for everything that follows,” he explained. With several references and stories to draw from, finding the right opening was not easy. But once he found that starting point, the rest of the story flowed rapidly. “Once I found the first scene, the rest of the story started falling into place,” he said, adding that he completed the remaining writing in just 15 to 20 days.
The painstaking process behind Hanuman Ansh offers an insight into the conviction with which Chaturvedi approached the story of Neem Karoli Baba. What began with handwritten pages and weeks spent perfecting a single opening has now translated into a film that has emerged as one of the biggest surprise successes of the year, crossing the Rs150 crore mark at the Indian box office. For Chaturvedi, the journey was clearly not about writing faster, but about finding the right way to tell a story rooted in faith, devotion and the teachings of a spiritual figure who continues to inspire millions.