From Gangsters to Grace: How Chandan Anand Found Soulful Nourishment in ‘Hanuman Ansh’
For fifteen years, the cinematic landscape inhabited by actor Chandan Anand was one painted in shades of grit, grime, and moral ambiguity. Whether playing hardened criminals in Rangbaaz or complex, dangerous figures in Class and Fighter, Anand spent over a decade mastering the art of the screen villain—a journey defined by violence, betrayal, and the dark underbelly of human nature. However, his latest project, Hanuman Ansh, has marked a radical departure, forcing the seasoned performer to trade his metaphorical weapon for a spiritual compass.
In Hanuman Ansh, Anand steps into the shoes of Ram Nandan Bhosle, an HSRA revolutionary whose rigid, atheistic worldview is shattered following a pivotal encounter with the legendary Neem Karoli Baba. For the actor, the role wasn’t just a shift in character—it was a seismic shift in his own psychological landscape.
A Satvik Meal for the Soul
Anand’s transition from the world of crime dramas to spiritual storytelling has been nothing short of transformative. Reflecting on the exhaustion that can come from constantly dwelling in the “lower emotions” of fear and anger, he compares his new creative direction to a change in dietary habits—one that nourishes the psyche rather than depleting it.
“I feel for the last 10-15 years, we have all been seeing a certain kind of cinema, and I have been performing in violent stories, murder mysteries, and gangster films,” Anand explains. “But now, performing in a spiritual film is like having a satvik meal. A satvik meal provides great food for the mind and soul, and Hanuman Ansh does that aptly.”
By moving away from narratives driven solely by revenge and conflict, Anand has tapped into themes of inner transformation, faith, and the quiet power of perspective. It is a creative detox, one that mirrors the evolving tastes of an audience increasingly hungry for substance beyond the shock value of violence.
The Mirror of the Character
Perhaps the most compelling aspect of Anand’s performance is how closely his character’s journey parallels his own. Ram Nandan Bhosle begins his arc as a fervent revolutionary—a man of action and sharp conviction—before his trajectory is altered by the grace of a spiritual master. Anand admits that playing this part forced him to hold a mirror up to his own life, challenging his own perceptions of reality and success.
“I can see and feel everything vividly now because I have lived the character and my journey in both reel and real life,” he says. “The character I played as a revolutionary is almost the same as me in real life.”
This introspection has led to a newfound wariness regarding the modern world’s obsession with ambition at any cost. “Reality is too harsh and practical,” the actor observes. “Everyone is busy chasing their goals and is 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.”
A Set Without Ego
The atmosphere of a film set is often frenetic and loud, but director Vishal Chaturvedi took a different approach for Hanuman Ansh. By maintaining a set environment devoid of shouting, aggression, or harsh language, the production team fostered a space where the reverence shown to the subject matter was mirrored by the conduct of the crew.
For an actor accustomed to the high-adrenaline environments of action films, this was a revelation. Anand notes that the discipline on set felt like a manifestation of the film’s message. “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.” This synthesis of professional craft and personal devotion gave the project a sense of purpose that transcended the typical “job-to-job” nature of the acting industry.
Serendipity and the Hand of Fate
The story of how Anand secured this role reads like a testament to the very themes the film explores. Months before the script even crossed his desk, Anand had visited Neem Karoli Baba’s temple, specifically requesting an opportunity to contribute to a project dedicated to Hanuman Ji. The phone call offering him a role in Hanuman Ansh arrived exactly six months later—a timing that Anand views not as a coincidence, but as a blessing.
Interestingly, he was initially considered for the role of a police inspector—a role that likely would have kept him in the “enforcer” archetype he was trying to leave behind. It was Anand himself who suggested he narrate the film instead. By envisioning the narration as a wise, warm figure—reminiscent of the storytelling traditions found in R.K. Narayan’s Malgudi Days—Anand brought a sense of heritage and comfort to the film that elevated its narrative tone.
Connecting with the Next Generation
Despite the film’s deep roots in traditional spirituality, Anand is confident that its appeal extends to Gen Z. He believes that the younger generation is not as far removed from spiritual wisdom as people think; they are simply starved for higher-order emotions.
“We all have nine emotions,” he says. “We are all living in the lower emotions of fear, disgust, envy, and anger. This film emotes your higher emotions of love, laughter, joy, and peace. When you see that, you become a warrior like Hanuman Ji, and that is why they are responding to it so strongly.”
The Path Forward
Currently, Anand finds himself in a career sweet spot. Between the spiritual depths of Hanuman Ansh and the mythological complexity of playing Shakuni in Hastinapur Ke Veer, he has achieved a rare professional equilibrium. He is not just working; he is curating his own growth.
Looking ahead, he has his eyes set on a “superhero” turn—though it’s a specific kind of hero he hopes to embody: “Hanuman Ji as a superhero.” With Hanuman Ansh 2 already in development, the actor’s evolution into a more grounded, spiritually resonant performer seems only just beginning. After 15 years in the dark corners of the cinematic world, Chandan Anand has stepped into the light, and he shows no signs of turning back.
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