MUMBAI, September 23, 2026: After emerging as one of 2026’s most unexpected theatrical successes, devotional drama Hanuman Ansh is preparing for another major test at the box office as Drishyam 3 arrives in cinemas.
Producer Ragini Sona has acknowledged that Drishyam 3, scheduled for release on October 2, is likely to affect Hanuman Ansh’s collections. But after watching the low-budget film withstand competition from much larger releases, she says the team is approaching the next challenge with considerably more confidence.
‘Of Course, It Will’: Producer on Drishyam 3
Asked whether Drishyam 3 would affect the continuing theatrical performance of Hanuman Ansh, Sona did not dismiss the impact.
“Of course, it will.”
She added that she wants other films to succeed as well and revealed that she is herself a fan of the Drishyam franchise and plans to watch the new film in theatres.
At the same time, Sona argued that Hanuman Ansh is not directly competing with Drishyam 3 in terms of genre.
That distinction is important. Hanuman Ansh is built around the life and teachings associated with spiritual figure Neem Karoli Baba, while Drishyam is an established crime-thriller franchise. The films therefore enter the market with significantly different storytelling propositions, even though they will compete for cinema screens and audience spending.
‘We Will Survive This Too’
Sona said the filmmakers’ confidence comes from what Hanuman Ansh has already endured during its theatrical run.
“The confidence we are coming from is that we have survived so many… and we will survive this too.”
She nevertheless acknowledged that the film’s box-office trajectory will eventually rise and fall, as happens with theatrical releases generally.
Her comments should therefore not be interpreted as a prediction that Hanuman Ansh will outperform Drishyam 3. Rather, the producer is expressing confidence that her film can retain a theatrical presence despite the arrival of another major title.
Toxic Already Put Hanuman Ansh Through a Major Test
The team's confidence has been shaped partly by its experience competing against Yash’s Toxic.
Sona previously said the producers initially doubted whether their film could remain in theatres even for a single day against the much larger release.
The pressure was significant.
Hanuman Ansh had reportedly been playing on around 350 screens, but its availability fell dramatically to approximately 25–30 screens following the arrival of major competing films including Toxic and Awarapan 2.
Despite that reduction, the film remained in theatres and subsequently expanded its performance through audience demand and word of mouth, according to reports on its theatrical run.
From Under ₹2 Crore Budget to an Extraordinary Theatrical Run
The scale of Hanuman Ansh’s performance becomes more striking when compared with its reported production cost.
The film was made for approximately ₹1.75 crore to ₹2 crore, according to multiple reports. Its early theatrical performance was modest: the first week brought in approximately ₹1.08 crore, followed by around ₹40 lakh in the second week, putting the first 14 days at roughly ₹1.48 crore.
The trajectory subsequently changed dramatically.
By early September, reports said the movie had crossed the ₹100 crore mark, while later reporting placed its theatrical earnings above ₹200 crore. The Indian Express reported on September 23 that the film had earned more than 180 times its original production budget, putting it among the unusually profitable Indian theatrical releases relative to production cost.
Box-office figures can differ between industry trackers depending on whether they use gross, net, India-only or worldwide collections, so such comparisons should be read with that distinction in mind.
Hanuman Ansh Team Eyes a 100-Day Theatrical Run
Rather than moving quickly to streaming, the producers are now aiming to keep the film in cinemas for 100 days.
Sona said theatres had not indicated that they wanted the film removed at the time of her latest interview, according to The Indian Express.
The October 2 arrival of Drishyam 3 therefore matters because major new releases typically require substantial screen allocation.
Even films addressing different audiences can consequently compete indirectly through screen availability, show timings and audience attention.
Producer Denies Reports of ₹100 Crore OTT Deal
The movie’s unexpected theatrical performance has also generated speculation about its streaming rights.
Sona rejected reports suggesting that Hanuman Ansh had already secured a ₹100 crore OTT deal. She confirmed that the producers were receiving offers but said the reported ₹100 crore agreement was not accurate.
That distinction matters because no confirmed streaming agreement at that valuation had been announced in the reporting reviewed.
For the moment, the producers appear focused on extending the theatrical run rather than using its box-office momentum to immediately transition the movie to streaming.
Makers Are Already Planning a Larger Hanuman Ansh Universe
The success is also changing the project's longer-term ambitions.
Producer Namrata Singh has said Hanuman Ansh was conceived as a three-part series rather than as a standalone movie followed by sequels created only after its success.
“We have always imagined it as a three-part series. We pitched it to everyone as a trilogy.”
According to Singh, the first film covers Maharaj ji’s earlier years through Kainchi Dham, while the second is planned around Kainchi and the third around the international dimension of the story. She cautioned, however, that the subsequent films had not yet been written and that the team would need time to develop them.
The producers are also exploring the property beyond cinema. Plans disclosed by the team include South Indian-language dubbed versions, a video game connected to Hanuman Kavach and comic books.
Why the Drishyam 3 Test Matters
The significance of the October competition goes beyond whether Hanuman Ansh earns more or less on a particular weekend.
The devotional film’s theatrical story has been driven by its ability to remain in cinemas despite initially modest collections and repeated competition from bigger titles. Drishyam 3 represents another challenge to that model because an established franchise can command substantial theatrical capacity.
Sona is already expecting some effect on collections. What remains to be seen is how many screens and shows Hanuman Ansh retains after October 2 and whether audience demand can sustain its push toward a 100-day theatrical run.
