‘Hanuman Ansh’ has found an unexpected audience at the box office, with the film reportedly earning over Rs 329.30 crore worldwide. Producer Ragini Sona believes the film’s journey and success have been closely connected to the blessings of Neem Karoli Baba. Ragini opened up about her meeting with Baba’s daughter, Girija ji (Amma ji), before the film’s release and recalled an experience she described as nothing short of a miracle.Ragini revealed that she and director Vishal Chaturvedi had made efforts to meet Girija ji and seek her blessings before the film hit theatres. Recalling their first interaction, she said in an interview with Screen, “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 film. And she said, ‘Yes, I will watch the film when I feel that the time is right.’ As of today, Baba’s daughter has watched the film around 15 times, and she has cried each time.”The meeting became even more significant for Ragini when Girija ji asked her about the reason behind making the film. Ragini shared her childhood experience of meeting Neem Karoli Baba, while Vishal spoke about the research that went into the project. She recalled, “Then she asked, ‘Please tell me, what inspired you to make this film?’ I shared my experience of meeting Neem Karoli Baba at the age of six. Vishal shared what led him to make this film, and spoke about his research. I said, ‘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 said 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.”The producer said the incident left her emotional and strengthened her belief that she had been chosen to be part of the project. Ragini further recalled, “I was crying and asked her, ‘How do you know all of this?’ To which, Amma ji replied, ‘I don’t have any answers to your question, but I could see everything.’ After all, she is Baba ji‘s daughter, and after this experience, I was assured that I was picked by Baba to be a part of this magnitude.”Ragini also spoke about meeting Girija ji personally and noticing how deeply she continues to follow Neem Karoli Baba’s teachings. She said, “Before making the film, we didn’t even know that Baba’s daughter was still around. And when we met her, we saw that she is a total replica of Baba. I felt like it was Baba himself in her. She also abides by Baba’s teachings, ‘Love all, feed all.’ The food we had at her place tasted so divine, and its quantity would automatically increase. I could very strongly feel Baba’s presence there,” recalled the producer.The team later met Neem Karoli Baba’s grandson, Dhananjan ji, as well. Ragini described the family as humble and said they were grateful to have received their blessings. “Very recently, we also met Baba’s grandson, Dhananjan ji. They are such simple people, just like Baba. They are very loving people, and we are grateful to Baba ji that these people are still among us and that we received all their blessings,” she said.Highlighting the message that continues to be carried forward by Baba’s family, Ragini added, “‘Love all, feed all’ was his message, and his entire family carries that message with them. My naman (bowing down with respect) to Dhananjan ji as well because they are the actual Ansh (fragments) of Baba,” Ragini added.The producer also acknowledged Virat Kohli and Anushka Sharma for helping bring Neem Karoli Baba into the curiosity of a younger audience. According to Ragini, their association with Baba encouraged more people to learn about him. She said, “Virat Kohli and Anushka Sharma played a significant role in sparking public curiosity about Baba. I am sure that they also must have experienced something life-changing, but many times, people aren’t vocal about it because it can’t be expressed in words, just felt. Now, this film is a medium for people to know Baba because nobody had told his story yet,” she said.
