A video of a Muslim man watching Hanuman Part in a cinema hall has gone viral on social media, with many viewers focusing on the fact that he is seen sitting barefoot during the screening. The film, based on the life of Neem Karoli Baba, is also said to be receiving immense love at the box office.
In the clip, the man is seen wearing a white kurta pyjama and a white skull cap, seated inside the theatre without any footwear on his feet. He appears fully involved in watching the film and does not seem bothered by the fact that someone is recording him.
After the video was posted online, social media users began reacting to it. One user wrote, “India without politics.” Another wrote, “They failed to pollute his mind by political polarisation rampant since decades.”
The viral clip has drawn attention amid discussions about Hanuman Partwhich is based on the life of Neem Karoli Baba. The depth of the devotion is such that Miraj Cinemas decided to keep a seat vacant in the theatre. In a social media post, the theatrical chain said it had decided to reserve seat number 9 for Neem Karoli Baba, adhering to the belief that he would watch the film with his devotees.
The video of the barefoot moviegoer, along with the reactions it triggered online, has added to the conversation around Hanuman Part as the film continues to draw attention in theatres.
Neem Karoli Baba, born Lakshman Narayan Sharma around 1900 in Akbarpur, Uttar Pradesh, was an Indian guru and ardent devotee of the Hindu deity Hanuman. He gained international prominence during the 1960s and 1970s through his ashrams in Kainchi Dham and Vrindavan. His teachings drew a significant following of Western seekers, most notably Harvard psychologist Richard Alpert (Ram Dass) and spiritual practitioner Bhagavan Das.
His teachings emphasised selfless service (his) and devotion, famously summarised as “Love all, serve all, feed all.” Whilst oral accounts by followers attribute various miraculous occurrences to his life, these stories form part of his spiritual hagiography rather than documented history.
Following his death in Vrindavan on September 11, 1973, his legacy expanded globally, influencing notable Western figures including Steve Jobs, Mark Zuckerberg, and Julia Roberts, all of whom visited his Kainchi Dham ashram.
Reportedly made on a modest budget of Rs 1.8 crore, Hanuman Part opened in India with around Rs 10 lakh and has earned over Rs 62 crore nett by Day 28. The makers attributed the film’s continued theatrical run to strong word of mouth.
Hanuman Part was theatrically released on August 7, 2026.
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