Hiten Tejwani opens up on playing Raboo Dada in Shree Baba Neeb Karori Maharaj

Hiten Tejwani is all set to be seen in the upcoming spiritual biopic Shree Baba Neeb Karori Maharaj alongside Subodh Bhave. The film, scheduled for release on May 29, 2026, will explore the life and teachings of Neem Karoli Baba and aims to bring his message of faith, devotion, and inner peace to audiences across the country.

Directed by Sharad Singh Thakur, the film will feature Subodh Bhave in the role of Neem Karoli Baba, while Hiten Tejwani will portray Raboo Dada, an important character connected to Baba’s life. The project has already sparked curiosity among audiences interested in spiritual stories and real-life journeys rooted in faith.

Talking about joining the film, Hiten revealed that he was not initially familiar with Neem Karoli Baba and his teachings. The actor shared that he discovered more about Baba only after director Sharad Singh Thakur approached him for the project.

Speaking about the experience, Hiten said, “When Sharad ji approached me, I didn’t know much about Baba. Being in Mumbai, many of us haven’t visited places like Kainchi Dham, so I wasn’t really aware of him. But once I started reading and learning more, I realised how many followers he has and how many stories are associated with him.”

What intrigued me was that Raboo Dada is still alive. When I met him, I realised he was very happy-go-lucky and lively, even at 85+. I found that similarity with myself quite interesting, and it helped me connect with the role

- Hiten Tejwani

Hiten Tejwani reveals how Raboo Dada helped him connect emotionally with the film

The actor further shared that his role as Raboo Dada helped him form an immediate personal connection with the film. According to Hiten, meeting the real Raboo Dada left a strong impression on him because of his cheerful and lively personality.

He said, “What intrigued me was that Raboo Dada is still alive. When I met him, I realised he was very happy-go-lucky and lively, even at 85+. I found that similarity with myself quite interesting, and it helped me connect with the role.”

Hiten also recalled visiting the ashram associated with Neem Karoli Baba during the filming. The actor described the visit as a deeply spiritual and emotional experience that strengthened his connection with the project.

Recalling the moment, he shared, “I happened to visit the ashram and was taken straight to the samadhi. I bowed my head there and told the priest that I was part of a film on Maharaj ji. It genuinely felt like Baba had called me there.”

The actor also opened up about the responsibility of portraying a real-life character associated with such a respected spiritual figure. According to him, playing Raboo Dada required emotional honesty and surrender to the character’s journey.

Talking about the challenges, Hiten said, “It’s always a responsibility to play someone real, especially when their life is connected to such a revered figure. While we hadn’t experienced the miracles ourselves, during the shoot, there were moments when things just fell into place, as if guided by something beyond us.”

“It felt almost miraculous”: Hiten says the film strengthened his spiritual belief

The actor also spoke about one of the film's emotionally demanding scenes, in which his character has a deeply moving moment with Baba.

“There’s a moment where Baba saves my character and then breaks down in front of him. That was challenging because I had to imagine that emotional state. I just surrendered to the scene and let it flow,” he revealed.

Reflecting on the overall experience of working on the film, Hiten admitted that the project has strengthened his spiritual beliefs even more. The actor shared that he already follows spiritual practices like prayer, chanting, and meditation in his personal life, but the film added a deeper layer to that faith.

He added, “I am spiritual in real life—I pray, chant, and meditate. This film has strengthened my belief even more. Many times, we wondered how scenes would come together, but somehow everything worked out. It felt almost miraculous, as if his presence was guiding us throughout.”

Apart from Hiten Tejwani and Subodh Bhave, the film also stars Samikssha Bhatnagar, Mohit Gupta, Hemant Pandey, Aaratii Naagpal, Varsha Manikchand, Hardeep Kaur, Aniruddh Dave, and Garima Agarwal in important roles.

The film is produced by Balram Garg, Balvir Singh, Sharad Singh Thakur, Khadag Singh Gaur, and Neelam Singh. Anisha Films International is presenting it in association with PC Jeweller and BSR Film Productions. First Film Studios LLP will handle the all-India release of the film.