Mumbai: Hanuman Ansh, one of the surprise successes of 2026, will not be in contention as India’s official entry for the Oscars this year after its makers missed the submission deadline for consideration in the Best International Feature Film category.
Producer Namrata Singh has revealed that the team was unaware that September 7 was the last date for submissions. She attributed the lapse to the small size of the production team and the number of responsibilities the makers were handling simultaneously.
Producer says team was unaware of deadline
Speaking to Bollywood Hungama, Singh explained that the team only learnt about the deadline after receiving calls from people asking why Hanuman Ansh had not been submitted.
She said the team was busy managing several aspects of the film’s release and described the production unit as a “really small team”. The producer also indicated that the overseas release, dubbing and other work had taken up much of their time.
The deadline for films seeking consideration as India’s official entry was September 7. Since Hanuman Ansh was not submitted within the prescribed window, it cannot be considered for selection as India’s official entry through the regular process.
Overseas release added to the workload
According to Singh, the team was simultaneously working to take Hanuman Ansh to international audiences.
The film’s overseas release involved several processes, including censorship requirements and the preparation of various assets. Singh said that she is a first-time producer, while writer-director Vishal Chaturvedi is also making his debut in those respective roles, meaning the team was learning how to handle an international release while working on the film.
The makers were particularly focused on ensuring that the overseas release took place on September 11, which coincided with Mahasamadhi Day associated with Neem Karoli Baba, the spiritual figure at the centre of the film’s story.
Telugu version set for September 18
While the Oscar opportunity has passed, the makers are continuing to expand the film’s reach.
The Telugu-dubbed version of Hanuman Ansh is scheduled to release in cinemas on September 18. Filmmaker Trivikram Srinivas is associated with the Telugu version, which was announced on September 11.
For now, Telugu is the only additional language in which the film has been dubbed. Singh said the team plans to work on other language versions later.
The makers are also working on accessibility initiatives so that people with different abilities can watch the film.
Hanuman Ansh emerges as a surprise success
Directed by Vishal Chaturvedi, Hanuman Ansh was released in theatres on August 7. The film stars Shobhinaw Satyaa as Neem Karoli Baba, with Chandan K Anand, Nikhil Dubey, Anil Rastogi, Sugandha Malhotra and Bhagvandas Patel in other roles.
The story follows Lakshmi Narayan, a young boy in pre-Independence India who leaves home following his mother’s death in search of God. His journey across northern India eventually leads to his transformation into Neem Karoli Baba.
The film has reportedly crossed the ₹200 crore mark in domestic box-office collections, according to industry tracker Sacnilk, making its performance a notable success despite its relatively small-scale production.
Makers planning a wider franchise
The team is also looking beyond the first film. Singh has revealed that a game based on Hanuman Ansh is being developed by the company behind FAU-G. The makers are also working on a comic book and discussing plans to expand the story into further films.
The first film was reportedly conceived as part of a trilogy, with the subsequent instalments expected to explore more of Neem Karoli Baba’s life and influence.
Oscar opportunity slips away
The missed submission deadline is a significant setback for a film that has generated strong audience interest and commercial success. However, the producer’s comments make clear that the film’s absence from the Oscar race this year was due to the makers missing the submission deadline rather than the film being rejected after an evaluation.
For now, the team is concentrating on taking Hanuman Ansh to audiences in more languages and territories. With its Telugu release approaching and other projects in development, the makers appear focused on building the film’s reach beyond its initial theatrical success.