India, Sept. 2 -- The sleeper success of 'Hanuman Ansh' has brought renewed attention to Neem Karoli Baba, the 20th-century Indian spiritual teacher whose influence reached far beyond his ashram in the hills of Uttarakhand.

The Vishal Chaturvedi-directed film, which is based on Neem Karoli Baba's life, has become an unexpected box-office success. Made on a budget of around Rs.1.7 crore, had earned Rs.45 crore in India in 25 days and expanded from an initial release in 250 theatres to around 1,200 screens.

But who exactly was Neem Karoli Baba, and why does his name remain associated with figures such as Steve Jobs, Mark Zuckerberg and Hollywood actor Julia Roberts?

Neem Karoli Baba, also known as Maharaj-ji and Neeb Karori Baba, was a H...