For nearly 15 years, actor Chandan Anand has frequently inhabited worlds populated by gangsters, violence, betrayal and morally complex characters. His work in projects such as ‘Rangbaaz’, ‘Fighter’, ‘Class’, ‘Parched’, ‘Gunjan Saxena: The Kargil Girl’ and ‘Homebound’ has seen him explore stories driven by conflict and intense human emotions.‘Hanuman Ansh’, however, offered Anand a markedly different experience. Instead of stepping into another crime-driven role, the actor plays Ram Nandan Bhosle, an HSRA revolutionary whose outlook undergoes a profound transformation after his encounter with Neem Karoli Baba. For Anand, the role went beyond being a departure from his previous characters; he believes the film also influenced his own perspective on life.
Chandan Anand compares ‘Hanuman Ansh’ to a satvik meal
Anand found the spiritual nature of ‘Hanuman Ansh’ refreshing after years of working on violent and crime-oriented stories. Speaking to India Today, the actor described the experience as a form of nourishment for both the mind and soul.“I feel for the last 10-15 years we have all been seeing a kind of cinema and I have been performing in violent stories, murder mysteries, gangster films, but now performing in a spiritual film is like having a satvik meal,” Anand said, adding, “A satvik meal forms a great food for mind and soul and Hanuman Ansh does that aptly.”Unlike many of his earlier projects, the film is not primarily driven by crime, revenge or violence. Its central themes revolve around faith, inner transformation and a changing understanding of life.
Chandan Anand found himself in his character
Playing Ram Nandan Bhosle also proved to be an introspective experience for Anand. His character begins as an atheist and an HSRA revolutionary before his meeting with Neem Karoli Baba prompts him to reconsider his beliefs.Anand found an unexpected connection between the character’s journey and his own personality.“I can see and feel everything vividly now as I have lived the character and my journey in reel and real life. The character I played as a revolutionary is almost the same as me in real life,” he said.The role subsequently made Anand reassess some of his own beliefs and approaches to life. He acknowledged that the realities of the world can often challenge the ideals people hold on to.“Reality is too harsh and practical. Everyone is busy chasing their goals and are ready to go to any lengths to achieve them. I can see my entire approach to life changing after doing this character and film. I am still in the process of transformation,” he said.
‘Hanuman Ansh’ blurred the line between reel and real life
According to Anand, the spiritual environment created during the shoot further deepened his experience. Director Vishal Chaturvedi maintained a disciplined atmosphere on set, with shouting, fighting and derogatory language discouraged. For Anand, the environment complemented the film’s spiritual themes and created a sense that the values portrayed on screen were also being reflected behind the camera.“That was incredible. It was basically respecting your work as a craftsman and letting the higher powers bless the project. It was like making the reel life and the real life into one,” Anand said.The actor felt that this approach gave the filmmaking process a distinct sense of purpose and made his association with the project more meaningful.
Chandan Anand was initially offered a different role
Interestingly, Anand was not originally brought on board to play the part he eventually portrayed. He was initially approached for the role of a police inspector. However, he asked the makers whether he could instead take on the role of the narrator. The narration became an important part of his association with the film. Anand imagined the narrator as an older family member recounting Baba’s story to a grandson, allowing him to bring warmth and familiarity to the voice while retaining a sense of wonder.“The way the story and the scenes were written with pure intent takes you to the good old days of RK Narayan’s Malgudi Days, or stories shared by Nani-Dadi in our homes,” he said.The opportunity ultimately gave Anand a role that was considerably different from the characters he had played in many of his earlier projects.
Anand recalls visiting Neem Karoli Baba’s temple before the film
The actor also considers his connection with ‘Hanuman Ansh’ significant because of an experience that preceded the film. Anand revealed that he had visited Neem Karoli Baba’s temple around six months before the shoot began and prayed for an opportunity to be part of a film connected with Hanuman Ji. Six months later, he received the call for ‘Hanuman Ansh’.“Six months before shooting the film, I paid my visit to the temple to meet Baba and prayed for a film with Hanuman Ji in it and in six months I got a call for this film,” he said, adding, “Sheer blessings of Hanuman Ji.”Anand also credited director Vishal Chaturvedi for offering him a role that he feels has had a lasting impact on his life.“I am truly grateful to Vishal Chaturvedi, the director of this film. He has changed my life with the role he has offered me. He is a wonderful director and made my life better and happier.”
Why Chandan Anand believes Gen Z is connecting with ‘Hanuman Ansh’
Anand believes the film’s appeal among younger audiences comes from its emotional core rather than its spiritual setting. He feels that the story encourages viewers to move away from negative emotions and engage with feelings of love, joy and peace.“We all have emotions, whether it’s Gen Z, Beta, Gamma. We all have nine emotions, and we are all living in lower emotions of fear, disgust, envy, anger. This film emotes your higher emotions of love, laughter, joy, peace, and you become a warrior like Hanuman Ji, so they are loving these emotions,” Anand said.
Chandan Anand calls this the best phase of his career
Anand now believes he is entering one of the most fulfilling phases of his career. Alongside ‘Hanuman Ansh’, he has also ventured into mythological territory with ‘Hastinapur Ke Veer’, in which he plays Shakuni. The opportunity to move between contrasting characters has made this period particularly rewarding for the actor.“I truly believe this is the best phase of my life as my physical body, mind and soul are in tune with each other and with the blessings of God, I get to create varied characters,” he said, adding, “I am in my best form as an actor and performer.”When asked about a larger-than-life character he would like to portray in the future, Anand had a clear choice: “Hanuman Ji as a superhero.”
‘Hanuman Ansh 2’ is already in the works
Anand’s association with the spiritual franchise is expected to continue. Director Vishal Chaturvedi has confirmed ‘Hanuman Ansh 2’, which is expected to explore more aspects of Neem Karoli Baba’s life, including his birthplace and the spiritual journey that followed. ‘Hanuman Ansh’ released theatrically on August 7, 2026. For Chandan Anand, the film has marked a significant shift from the intense and often violent worlds he has inhabited on screen for years. More importantly, by his own account, the project has influenced not just his career choices but also his personal outlook.
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