Anshuman Jha’s ‘Lakadbaggha 2’ Makes Film Festival History
Lakadbaggha 2 – The Monkey Business, the eagerly awaited sequel to the animal-lover vigilante action film Lakadbaggha, is set to make its World Premiere at the Razor Reel Flanders Film Fest in Bruges, Belgium. Officially selected as part of the festival’s 2026 program, the film caught the attention of the Razor Reel programming team at the Marché du Film during Cannes 2026. Its unique blend of raw action, international martial arts, and a strong environmental message positions it as a potential Indian genre franchise with global appeal.
Star-Studded International Cast
The film features an impressive international ensemble led by Chinese martial arts star Sunny Pang, recognized for his roles in Headshot and Netflix’s Havoc alongside Tom Hardy. Thai martial arts icon Dan Chupong, famed for his work in Ong Bak, also joins the cast. The Indian lineup includes acclaimed actors Adil Hussain, Sarah Jane Dias, Vikram Kochar, and Anshuman Jha, who reprises his role as the animal-loving vigilante Arjun Bakshi.
Patrick Van Hauwaert, the Festival Director, expressed his enthusiasm for the film, stating, “Watching Lakadbaggha 2 felt like a journey back to the golden age of martial arts cinema from my youth. Beyond the fantastic hand-to-hand combat, its urgent focus on exposing the cruelty of illegal wildlife smuggling makes it a truly impactful watch. It’s a gripping story that stays with you.”
A New Direction for the Franchise
Directed by Anshuman Jha, Lakadbaggha 2 marks his return to the director’s chair after Lord Curzon Ki Haveli. This sequel not only revisits the character and world he created in the first Lakadbaggha but also expands the franchise geographically and stylistically. It combines an Indian vigilante narrative with the action vocabulary of Asian martial arts, representing a significant evolution for the series. The film is also a co-production between India and Indonesia, further broadening its international reach.
At its core, the film remains focused on animal welfare. The selection at Razor Reel signifies a shift from an unconventional Indian vigilante story centered around an animal lover to an international action spectacle that unites martial arts performers and actors from India and across Asia. The first film premiered at the Kolkata International Film Festival and had its international debut at SAIFF New York, where Jha received Best Actor honors in 2023.
Environmental Message at the Heart
Anshuman Jha, who is both an actor and filmmaker, shared his vision for the sequel. He said, “Animals are going extinct because humanity is going extinct. Lakadbaggha was always an unusual film for India — an animal lover who becomes a vigilante – a love letter to dogs. With Lakadbaggha 2: The Monkey Business, we wanted to take that world much further and create an action film that could speak to audiences in India and beyond – it’s our love letter to the environment with the endangered Yaki Monkey at its centre. To know that their population has fallen from nearly 50,000 in 1990 to fewer than 5,000 today is devastating. We wanted to tell that story through a genre that can travel across borders, action.”
He further noted, “There have been several action and martial arts films in Razor Reel’s history, but to have the festival welcome an Indian martial arts film for the first time makes this selection particularly meaningful. We hope the film opens another door for Indian action cinema internationally.”
With its unique combination of Indian vigilante mythology, animal welfare themes, Asian martial arts, and an international cast, Lakadbaggha 2 – The Monkey Business aims to carve out a distinct space for the franchise in the global action genre.
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