Anupriya Nagar’s story is proof that sometimes, a research paper can take you places you never imagined. In an episode of Stories From Bharat with Kamiya Jani, the producer of Hanuman Ansh opened up about how her curiosity about global business leaders led her to Neem Karoli Baba, popularly known as Maharaj ji, and eventually brought her into the world of filmmaking.
What Led Anupriya Nagar To Neem Karoli Baba?
So, it began as an attempt to understand how some of the world’s biggest companies came up with their ideas turned into a deeply personal exploration of India’s spiritual heritage. And somewhere between a university assignment, an unexpected discovery and a film script that gave her goosebumps, Anupriya found herself taking a leap of faith that would change her life.
It all started with a research paper. Anupriya was exploring how multinational companies come up with ideas that go on to change the world. Instead of simply studying the finished products and the people behind them, she wanted to trace those ideas back to their source. That curiosity led her to Steve Jobs and his reported connection with Kainchi Dham in Uttarakhand.
The connection was fascinating, but it also left her with an uncomfortable question. How could a place tucked away in the hills of Uttarakhand have such a profound cultural and spiritual significance, yet she was discovering its story through a foreign entrepreneur?
For Anupriya, that irony hit home. Here was India, a country with a rich spiritual tradition, and she was learning about one of its revered figures through stories about someone from halfway across the world. Why did it take some foreign person for her to become curious about Neem Karoli Baba?
Also Read: From Hanuman Dhara To Mandakini River: 5 Sacred Places Connected To Hanuman Ansh
Her Journey With Hanuman Ansh
The question stayed with her. She began looking beyond the research paper, wanting to understand Maharaj ji’s teachings and reconnect with a part of her heritage she felt she had not explored enough. It began as academic curiosity soon became something far more telling. She wanted to tell this story herself, to make India’s spiritual wisdom accessible to people who might otherwise never stumble upon it.
The only question was how. Should she write a comic book? Should she explore another format? Anupriya was still figuring that out when she met one of the producers working on Hanuman Ansh. She read the script, and it was game over. The story moved her so deeply that she experienced goosebumps. It was an emotional roller coaster, and she knew she wanted to be part of it. Rather than simply praising the script and walking away, she asked the team how she could contribute to the film.
Their answer brought the conversation down to earth. They needed funds.
Fortunately, Anupriya had the financial means to help. She had saved a substantial amount of money, and here was a project she genuinely believed in. She brought financial support to the film, while the project gave her the opportunity to help take a story rooted in India’s spiritual heritage to the screen. It was, in many ways, a barter deal unlike most others; money met meaning, and a research paper found its way into the world of cinema.
For Anupriya, Hanuman Ansh was no longer just a film she had stumbled upon. It was an answer to the question that had first sent her down the rabbit hole of research: why should stories from India’s own spiritual tradition remain unfamiliar to the very people who inherit that heritage? She had set out to understand how big ideas are born. Along the way, she found a story she wanted to help bring to life.
Also Read: Exclusive: At 21, Anupriya Nagar Is India’s Youngest Producer, Making Her Mark With Hanuman Ansh
Watch the full Stories From Bharat episode on the Curly Tales App or Curly Tales YouTube Channel.
Cover Image Courtesy: Internal
FAQs
Who is Anupriya Nagar?
Anupriya Nagar is the producer of Hanuman Ansh, a film inspired by Neem Karoli Baba.
How did Anupriya Nagar discover Neem Karoli Baba?
While researching how global companies developed influential ideas, Anupriya explored Steve Jobs’ reported connection with Neem Karoli Baba and Kainchi Dham.
Where can you watch Anupriya Nagar’s interview with Kamiya Jani?
You can watch the full Stories From Bharat episode on the Curly Tales app or the Curly Tales YouTube channel.
