'Hanuman Ansh' actor Shobhinaw Satyaa came on board when the original actor fell ill

Shobhinaw Satyaa's journey to playing Neem Karoli Baba in ‘Hanuman Ansh’ was far from planned. The actor was not the first choice for the role and only stepped into the part after the original actor fell ill on the very first day of filming. What followed was an unexpected transition from being known primarily as an assistant director to taking on the central role — one that came with its own set of doubts and fears.The pressure was even greater because Satyaa is a believer himself. The actor opened up about the uncertainty he felt before portraying the revered spiritual guru. He admitted that he was worried about whether audiences would accept him in the role and whether his own devotion to Neem Karoli Baba would make it harder to separate himself from the character.“Initially, I was very scared before playing this character, if I will be able to do it or not. I had a fear inside because I am also a believer myself. I was scared of people saying ‘Yeh konsa baba leliya hai’ in the future. All of this was going on in my mind. So, sir calmed me down and said that I just need to perform, and he will take care of everything. "However, those initial apprehensions began to fade once Satyaa actually entered the world of the character.

“When the shoot started, I went to the temple and the people there started chanting ‘Baba, baba’. It was the first day and I wasn’t even sure if I was being able to connect. Another seemingly ordinary incident at the temple further strengthened his confidence. “I sat there and someone asked me if I would eat something. I don’t know why but I asked them to get some lehsun (garlic), namak (salt), and roti (chapati).

They brought it from the village and I ate it there. Things like this kept happening with me. I didn’t want to do it, but it happened. I even started blessing people whenever they asked for it. Then, I felt more confident. " For Satyaa, the challenge was not restricted to portraying a spiritual figure. He also had to overcome the perception that audiences might have of him because of his work behind the camera. “Sir wasn’t convinced initially, so he asked me a simple question about what was going on in my mind.

I then told him that I am such a true follower of baba, what if people aren’t able to accept me? Actors have to face such things. Secondly, I was thinking that the people who think of me as an assistant director, would they accept me? And how would they react? What began as an unexpected casting change therefore became a deeply personal acting experience for Satyaa.