It’s Shani Maharaj, a gent who seems to have taken it upon himself to play the part of the mad sadhu, who is responsible for the blood vessels that American Hindus have burst. The crew of Believer is well aware that Shani Maharaj is performing as he rubs ashes on Aslan, barks out abuses and claims to be eating human flesh. Just as the fake Aghori is playing for the camera, the cameras are well-prepared too, which is why when Aslan wants to leave, the director firmly tells him to stay put. There are two reasons for this segment. One is to show Aslan’s personal journey – from disgust at the terribly unhygienic Ganga, he takes a dip in the waters and not just survives, but discovers an unexpected sense of awe about the river and Varanasi. The more important point is that Aghoris should not be defined by their theatrics. Their message of breaking down caste barriers is important and people like Shani Maharaj do it disservice. This is why Believer spends more times with Aghoris like the followers of Baba Bhagwan Ramji, who have assimilated themselves into modern India and spread the anti-caste message by starting clinics, schools and even an orphanage.