‘Neem Karoli Baba’s daughter watched Hanuman Ansh 15 times and cried’: Producer recalls 'miracle' meeting with Amma ji
Here's the latest update from the Bollywood world:
Vishal Chaturvedi’s directorial Hanuman Ansh , based on the life of Neem Karoli Baba, has performed a miracle of sorts at the ticket-window. In a recent interaction, producer Ragini Sona opened up that not only has the audience embraced the movie, but Neem Karoli Baba’s daughter, Girija ji, also known as Amma ji, has watched it not once but around 15 times.
Adding to this, Hanuman Ansh has surpassed ₹270 crore rupees at ticket-window in India. ‘She cried each time’ In an interview with SCREEN, Ragini Sona shared, “I met Neem Karoli Baba’s daughter, Girija ji. We tried to find her contact number and went to meet her because Vishal (Chaturvedi) also wanted us to seek her blessings once. There was a phone conversation between the three of us, Amma ji, Vishal and me, where we asked her if she would like to see the movie. And she shared, ‘Yes, I will watch the movie when I feel that the time is right.’ As of today, Baba’s daughter has watched the movie around 15 times, and she has cried each time.”
Meanwhile, The producer also narrated what she described as a life-changing meeting with Girija ji. She shared, “Then she asked, ‘Please tell me, what inspired you to make this movie?’ I shared my experience of meeting Neem Karoli Baba at the age of six. Vishal shared what led him to make this movie, and spoke about his research. I shared, ‘Amma ji, my father was posted in Nainital.’ Nobody will believe this, but because Vishal was there on the call, he is a witness to this miracle. Amma ji immediately took my father’s name, shared the exact location of my father’s home in Agra, and this is some 50-year-old news. Amma ji shared that she could see everything in front of her eyes in real time. She also took my older brother’s name. I can’t think of a miracle greater than this.”
Notably, Ragini Sona recalled crying after Girija ji revealed details about her life. When asked how she knew so much about Ragini’s family and past, she shared that she doesn't have any answers to this question, but she could see everything.
As per the latest buzz, For the first two weeks after Hanuman Ansh was rolled out in theatres, the movie barely made ₹ 2 crore rupees. However, thanks to strong word of mouth, the movie gradually gained popularity and began playing to packed theatres. The movie has now collected ₹ 329 crore rupees worldwide.
In further updates, Vibha Maru is an Assistant Editor with Hindustan Times Entertainment, based in Delhi. With a decade of experience across digital and print media, she covers Bollywood, Hollywood and web shows. A self-confessed cinephile who breathes Hindi cinema, Vibha can often be found sacrificing sleep after binge-watching films and web series. Though she holds a Commerce degree, she discovered her true calling in journalism after enrolling at the Indian Institute of Mass Communication (IIMC). She began her career covering Delhi's cultural scene, food, nightlife, concerts, and city life at The Times of India, before moving into full-time entertainment journalism with India Today. At India Today, Vibha interviewed some of the biggest names in Bollywood and television while carving a niche for herself through movie reviews, opinion pieces, nostalgic features, star interviews, and trend-driven stories. She later brought her storytelling and editorial expertise to The Indian Express, where she continued to deepen her understanding of cinema through long-form entertainment explainers, retrospectives and feature writing. Now, as Assistant Editor at Hindustan Times Entertainment, Vibha continues to chronicle the world of movies and pop culture. Her work spans breaking entertainment news, exclusive interviews, star features, and stories that capture the conversations shaping Indian cinema. Read More
Source: Hindustan Times