Bollywood actress Anushka Sharma and Indian cricket star Virat Kohli could potentially appear together in a film for the first time, with speculation linking the couple to the upcoming sequel of the spiritual film Hanuman Ansh.
The possibility emerged after producer Namrata discussed plans for the sequel and revealed that the filmmakers had approached devotees of Neem Karoli Baba about potentially appearing in the upcoming films.
During an interview, Namrata was asked whether Anushka Sharma, Virat Kohli and Hollywood actress Julia Roberts could feature in the project. All three have publicly been associated with devotion to Neem Karoli Baba.
The producer indicated that she had reached out to some devotees, although she did not confirm that Anushka or Virat had agreed to appear in the film.
“I have reached out to some of them,” Namrata said, explaining that some people were already aware of the project.
She also emphasized that the story would initially focus on Indian devotees and the connection between Neem Karoli Baba and Kainchi Dham.
The proposed project is planned as a three-part spiritual film series. According to the producer, the first installment, Hanuman Ansh, explores the early life of Neem Karoli Baba and his journey toward establishing Kainchi Dham.
The second installment is expected to focus more closely on Kainchi and its spiritual significance. The third film is planned as an international chapter exploring Baba’s influence on devotees outside India.
Namrata said the third installment could feature stories connected to prominent international devotees and personalities associated with Neem Karoli Baba, including Steve Jobs, Mark Zuckerberg, Twitter founder Jack Dorsey and Julia Roberts.
The first film follows Lakshmi Narayan in pre-Independence India. Following the death of his mother, he leaves his home in search of God and travels through different parts of North India before eventually becoming the spiritual figure known as Neem Karoli Baba.
Shobhinaw Satyaa plays the central role in the film, which also features Purnima Tiwari, Chandan K. Anand, Rajiv Mishra, Rishikesh Dubey, Hunny Bakshi and Rishi Pathak.
The possibility of Anushka Sharma and Virat Kohli appearing together has generated particular interest because the couple have not previously starred together in a feature film.
Neither Anushka nor Virat has confirmed involvement in the Hanuman Ansh sequel. Their names have so far emerged only in connection with the producer’s comments about approaching devotees of Neem Karoli Baba.
Anushka Sharma’s most recent acting appearance was a brief cameo in the 2022 film Qala. The actress has largely remained away from regular film appearances in recent years while focusing on her personal and professional commitments.
Virat Kohli, meanwhile, has not announced plans to make his acting debut in a feature film. The cricketer has appeared in advertisements and promotional projects, but a full-fledged film role would represent a significant change.
The couple have, however, appeared together on screen before. Anushka and Virat featured in a television commercial for a shampoo brand in 2013 after meeting on the commercial’s set.
If both eventually join Hanuman Ansh 2, the project would therefore mark their first reported film collaboration rather than their first appearance together on screen.
For now, their participation remains speculative, and no official casting announcement has been made. Fans will likely have to wait for confirmation from the filmmakers or the couple before considering the reported appearance final.
The potential casting nevertheless adds another layer of interest to the planned sequel, particularly given the couple’s known connection with Neem Karoli Baba and the spiritual themes at the center of the film series.
