How Apple’s Rejection Led Her to Neem Karoli Baba
Anupriya Nagar once dreamed of working at Apple and even appeared for an interview with the technology company. However, she could not make it past the second round of the selection process.
What initially appeared to be a career disappointment eventually opened a different chapter in her life. While reading about Steve Jobs and his professional journey, Anupriya discovered that the Apple co-founder used to visit Kainchi Dham in Uttarakhand, a spiritual centre associated with Neem Karoli Baba.
Learning about the significance of the place in Steve Jobs' life prompted Anupriya to visit Kainchi Dham as well. Gradually, her faith in Neem Karoli Baba grew, and she became his devotee.
Her spiritual connection eventually led her to take an unexpected professional decision. Anupriya decided to co-produce filmmaker Vishal Chaturvedi's 'Hanuman Ansh', a film based on the life of Neem Karoli Baba.
Invested ₹55 Lakh in the Film, Father Thought She Had Lost Her Way
The initial budget of 'Hanuman Ansh' was approximately ₹1.5 crore. There were three producers associated with the project, and Anupriya invested around ₹50 lakh to ₹55 lakh from her personal savings.
However, her decision came as a surprise to her family, particularly her father. Speaking to Curly Tales, Anupriya recalled that her father felt his daughter had lost her way.
His concerns were understandable. Anupriya had studied in the United Kingdom, earned a degree in Economics and secured a good job in Zurich. Her family expected her to build on her professional career, but she chose to leave everything behind and invest her savings in the film industry.
Her father was particularly worried because she had no acquaintances or professional connections in the film industry. Investing her entire savings in a project without any established industry network appeared to him to be a significant risk.
Family Encouraged Her to Release the Film in Theatres Instead of OTT
Although her family's initial reaction was one of concern, her parents gradually began supporting her decision. They even encouraged her to release the film in theatres rather than taking the direct-to-OTT route.
Anupriya admitted that there were moments when she wondered whether she was suited to the film industry. However, she remained clear about one thing: even if the film failed, she would not regret her decision because she had undertaken the project with complete faith and conviction.
She believed that even if the younger generation did not watch the film immediately, young people 10 or 20 years later might discover it. Her intention was to encourage children to watch the film and develop a connection with spirituality.
Father Could Not Find a Single Theatre Seat After the Film's Release
One of the most striking moments in Anupriya's journey came after the film was released. Her father was in London during the initial two weeks of its theatrical run and could not watch the film during that period.
By the time he returned to India, the film's box office collections had gathered considerable momentum, and audiences were turning up in large numbers at cinemas.
The response was so strong that Anupriya could not even book a single seat for her father at any theatre in Mumbai. Cinemas were displaying house-full signs, leaving no seats available.
The situation marked a remarkable turn of events for the family. The same father who had once worried that his daughter was losing her way by investing her savings in filmmaking was now unable to find a seat to watch her film.
With worldwide earnings of more than ₹452 crore, 'Hanuman Ansh' has become a significant milestone in Anupriya Nagar's journey, which began with an unsuccessful Apple interview and eventually took her from a corporate career in Zurich to film production.
About The Author
Comment List