Producer Anupriya Nagar, who is just 21 years old, has opened up about the initial struggles faced by Hanuman Ansh after its release. In an interview with Siddharth Kanan, Anupriya recalled how the film’s declining screen count and lack of support left her questioning whether she wanted to continue in the film industry.

Speaking about the film’s early box office performance, Anupriya said, “It was disheartening to see that the film was not doing well at the box office. I wasn’t disheartened because we weren’t making money. I was disheartened because people weren’t watching the film. I couldn’t understand whether devotees were not going to watch it or whether they were going and not enjoying it. We simply didn’t understand what was happening. That was one of the most difficult times,”

She revealed that she decided to personally step in and create awareness around the film. “I thought, I am one of the producers of this film, and I have invested my hard-earned money in this project so that people watch it and know about Maharaj Ji. I couldn’t just sit with my hands folded,”

Anupriya travelled to Delhi, met leaders and devotees and also turned to podcasts and interviews to generate word of mouth. “I went to Delhi and thought I would meet whoever I could. I met top leaders, I met a lot of his devotees and tried to get them to post something from their handles, so that there could be some word of mouth. I wanted some kind of movement to happen. I thought, let me do podcasts. Honestly, at that time nobody knew me. Nobody knew that Hanuman Ansh was coming or that it was about Maharaj Ji. I also want to thank those podcasters and interviewers who gave me the opportunity to speak through their channels at that time,”

The situation became even more difficult when the makers were informed that the film’s screen count had fallen sharply. “We got a call on the eighth day saying, ‘Your film has gone from 300 screens to 30 screens. Maybe tomorrow your film will be out because two more films are coming.’ We were told that perhaps only a miracle could save the film and that it might be out of theatres the next day,”

Recalling the uncertainty within the team, she added, “There were people in the team who were thinking that everything was over and that perhaps we should get a good OTT deal so that we could recover the money. That was the most difficult time we saw,”

Anupriya admitted that the experience even made her consider leaving the industry. “When the film was declared a flop, I thought maybe I would pack my bags and go back to Zurich. I thought this industry was not meant for me. I had reached that stage where I was thinking I would leave the industry and go back,”

She also recalled how difficult it had been to find investment for the film during its initial stages. “Since the beginning, even before I came on board, the Hanuman Ansh team had gone to many people for investment for post-production, but nobody agreed to invest, even though it wasn’t a very big investment.”

According to Anupriya, the film was initially viewed as a small-budget project without established names. “Before the release, there were a handful of people who supported us, but many people didn’t believe in the project. They thought it was a small-budget film, the director was making his first film, and the actors were also new. They thought the film would come and go. People didn’t have that belief.”

However, she says the perception around the film has since changed. “I am so glad the industry’s thought process has now changed. Everyone in the industry is supporting us,” she said.

She further revealed that several producers have since reached out to congratulate the team and acknowledge their initial doubts. “Lots of producers have reached out and it is very sweet. They have congratulated us. Some of them have actually come to me and said, ‘First of all, I apologise because this film had come to us. We are sorry we couldn’t join you. That was the biggest mistake I made.’”

“They said, ‘You have made us realise that a small film can do so much. You have given a lesson to the industry.’ They told us, ‘Whatever you want, we are with you.’ It is very sweet. I don’t blame them because it was a very small film,” she added.

Hanuman Ansh is a biographical drama directed by Vishal Chaturvedi and based on the life and teachings of Neem Karoli Baba. The film stars Shobhinaw Satyaa, Vihaan Shedge, Chandan Anand, Purnima Tiwari, Anil Rastogi and Gulshan Pandey in key roles. Hanuman Ansh released in cinemas on August 7, 2026

Also Read: Hanuman Ansh Box Office: Film collects Rs. 3.43 cr on Day 48, takes total closer to Rs. 280 cr

This year, December is going to be a treat for moviegoers. Shraddha Kapoor’s much-awaited period drama, Eetha, will release on December 4. Two weeks later, December 18 will witness the epic clash between Avengers: Doomsday and Dune: Part Three. A week later, on December 24, Jumanji: Open World will clash with Shah Rukh Khan’s highly anticipated flick, King. While there’s tremendous excitement among audiences to watch these four diverse films during the holiday season, there’s also concern over how screen-sharing will play out. Many expect an intense tussle for screens, especially at single-screen cinemas.

Bollywood Hungama exclusively spoke with Kamal Gianchandani, Chief Business Planning & Strategy at PVR INOX Limited and CEO of PVR INOX Pictures Limited, about this aspect. When asked whether he expects screen-sharing problems to arise, he replied, “It’s a good problem to have! We have a very experienced team who have been doing it for ages. We’ll handle it. There’s no problem with respect to capacities. In India, we have enough and more capacity to now handle 2 or 3 big releases in the same week. We’ll handle it easily.”

Two days from now, on Friday, September 25, Avengers Endgame: Encore will release and is expected to open with a bang. Kamal Gianchandani predicted, “The advances are fantastic. It’ll smash all re-release records without a doubt.”

Interestingly, the hype surrounding the re-release of Avengers Endgame: Encore also indicates the enormous anticipation for the next film in the franchise, Avengers: Doomsday, which is expected to put up a huge number on its opening day.

Kamal Gianchandani agreed, “It’s a foregone conclusion. If Endgame is having this sort of a response, you can imagine the response that Doomsday will have. It’ll be a monstrous December with Doomsday, Dune: Part Three, Jumanji: Open World and King. December is shaping up to be absolutely massive this year.”

Also Read: EXCLUSIVE: PVR INOX’s Kamal Gianchandani on Hollywood’s record-breaking India run: “People are tired of consuming films at home”; predicts Avengers Endgame: Encore will “SMASH all re-release records”; CONFIRMS India releases of Godzilla Minus Zero, Artificial

Filmmaker Aditya Dhar attended the 72nd National Film Awards with wife and actor Yami Gautam, as their 2024 film Article 370 emerged as one of the major winners at the ceremony. The film won Best Feature Film, while Yami was honoured with Best Actress for her performance. Article 370 also won Best Music Direction for Shashwat Sachdev.

However, when Aditya Dhar was asked about his much-anticipated film Dhurandhar during a red carpet interaction, the filmmaker kept the focus firmly on the film being celebrated that evening. Aditya Dhar says, “Today, it is all about Article 370” During the interaction, Aditya Dhar was asked about making what was described as one of the biggest films in the Indian film industry. While the question referred to Dhurandhar, Dhar pointed out that the occasion was about Article 370 and its National Award recognition. “We are here for Article 370, we will discuss Dhurandhar hopefully if we come next year also. But, today, it is all about Article 370,” he said.

The comment comes as Dhurandhar continues to remain a major talking point around Dhar’s upcoming work. Since the current National Film Awards recognise films from the 2024 eligibility cycle, Dhurandhar is not part of this year’s awards. The film could be considered for a future edition, subject to the applicable eligibility rules.

Watch | We will discuss Dhurandhar if we come next year also, but today it's about Article 370: Dhurandhar Maker Aditya Dhar at Ektanagar in Gujarat for National Film Awards with his Actress Wife Yami Gautam pic.twitter.com/AxsgUcaMBV — DeshGujarat (@DeshGujarat) September 22, 2026

Yami Gautam Dhar calls National Award the “biggest validation” For Yami Gautam, the evening marked a major milestone as she received her first National Film Award for her performance in Article 370. Speaking about the honour, the actor said, “It feels great. We were just discussing, this is the biggest validation for any artist. I think it is the highest honour presented to you by your country. I don't think I will be able to express right now. I am smiling, but from inside I am feeling like an energy of a newcomer for whom everything is so big, everything is so new and special,” Yami said.

The actor's win came alongside Article 370 being named Best Feature Film and Shashwat Sachdev receiving the award for Best Music Direction. Article 370’s National Film Awards recognition Directed by Aditya Suhas Jambhale, Article 370 was among the films recognised at the 72nd National Film Awards. The ceremony was held on September 22, 2026, in Ekta Nagar, Kevadia, Gujarat. It marked the first time the National Film Awards ceremony was held outside Delhi.

Also Read: Aditya Dhar teases wife Yami Gautam over Nayyi Navelli poster; says, “So this is what i married into”

Filmmaker Meghna Gulzar has opened up about how films portray patriotism differently, comparing her 2018 directorial Raazi with the more action-driven Dhurandhar. According to Meghna, the difference lies in the stories being told rather than the level of patriotism displayed by their characters.

The filmmaker discussed the subject during her appearance on the podcast Learn By KK Create. Asked about Dhurandhar and whether her approach to patriotism differs from that seen in other films, Meghna said that the characters in Raazi are not less patriotic simply because their patriotism is expressed differently on screen.

“The difference is in the story. I don't think Raazi's characters aren't any less patriotic than Dhurandhar's characters. It is their actions because of the way the story is. That is how they are depicted. One does not have to be right, and the other has to be wrong. Patriotism and prayers don't need volume. And they aren't expressed in one particular way. Every individual has their own way of expression,” she said. Meghna Gulzar on patriotism and moral choices in Raazi Released in 2018, Raazi starred Alia Bhatt as Sehmat, a young Indian woman who is recruited as an undercover operative and sent to Pakistan during the 1971 Indo-Pak war. The film explores her mission through personal relationships, sacrifice and the moral consequences of her actions.

For Meghna, the character's patriotism does not necessarily translate into an absence of moral conflict. When asked whether there was a limit to the kind of patriotism she would portray on screen, she said the character's own boundaries were what mattered. “There is no limit. If the character does not have a limit, how will I have a limit? And there was no limit of Raazi's character's patriotism. She had a limit when it came to her moral compass,” Meghna said.

On the professional front, Meghna Gulzar is currently gearing up for her latest directorial, Daayra, which stars Kareena Kapoor Khan and Malayalam actor Prithviraj Sukumaran.

Also Read: EXCLUSIVE: “Meghna Gulzar gave me a character that had real weight; sharing screen space with Kareena Kapoor was an experience,” says Upendra Chauhan on Daayra

Bigg Boss 20 contestant Kanika Mann received a special shoutout from Sidharth Malhotra during the latest Weekend Ka Vaar episode. The actor, who appeared on the show with Tamannaah Bhatia to promote their upcoming film The Vvaan: Force of the Forrest, spoke to the contestants and had a few words of appreciation for Kanika.

During his interaction with the housemates, Sidharth praised Kanika's personality and the way she has been conducting herself inside the Bigg Boss house. He referred to her as a “true alpha” and also revealed that his mother has been following her journey on the reality show.

The shoutout came as Kanika continues to navigate the various equations and disagreements inside the Bigg Boss house. The actress has frequently expressed her opinions during conversations with fellow contestants and has been involved in several discussions as the season progresses.

Sidharth's mention of his mother watching Kanika's journey added a personal touch to the interaction. His appreciation also gave Kanika a moment of recognition during the Weekend Ka Vaar episode.

Meanwhile, Sidharth and Tamannaah appeared on the show as part of the promotions for The Vvaan: Force of the Forrest. Their appearance included interactions with Salman Khan and the contestants, with Kanika's shoutout emerging as one of the highlights for the actress.

For Kanika, the moment marked a notable interaction with Sidharth, particularly after the actor acknowledged her presence and personality on the show.