Anshuman Jha’s Lakadbaggha 2: The Monkey Business is set to take its animal-loving vigilante story to an international audience with its world premiere at the Razor Reel Flanders Film Fest in Bruges, Belgium. The film has been officially selected for the festival’s 2026 programme, adding a major international stop to the journey of the action franchise.
The sequel expands the world introduced in the first Lakadbaggha film by combining an Indian vigilante narrative with Asian martial arts and an environmental theme. The film is directed by Anshuman Jha, who also returns as Arjun Bakshi, the animal-loving vigilante at the centre of the franchise.
Lakadbaggha 2 Gets World Premiere In Belgium
Lakadbaggha 2: The Monkey Business will have its world premiere at the Razor Reel Flanders Film Fest in Bruges. The 2026 festival is scheduled to take place from October 29 to November 7. The film was discovered by the festival team during the Marché du Film at Cannes 2026, where its action style and international martial arts elements attracted attention.
The selection gives the sequel an opportunity to introduce its action-driven story to genre-film audiences outside India before its wider theatrical release.
According to the makers, the film marks the first Indian action franchise to receive a world premiere at the Belgian genre festival. The Hollywood Reporter India also described it as the first Indian action film selected at the European genre festival.
Anshuman Jha Returns As Arjun Bakshi
Anshuman Jha is returning to the character of Arjun Bakshi while also taking charge as director. This marks his return behind the camera following Lord Curzon Ki Haveli.
The first Lakadbaggha introduced Arjun as an unusual vigilante whose love for animals becomes central to his fight against cruelty. The sequel takes that concept beyond India and places the character in a larger international action setting.
Jha has described the sequel as a film that aims to combine action entertainment with an environmental message.
Sunny Pang And Dan Chupong Join The Action
One of the biggest additions to Lakadbaggha 2 is its international martial arts cast. Chinese martial arts performer Sunny Pang and Thai martial arts star Dan Chupong are part of the film.
Sunny Pang is known internationally for films such as Headshot and Netflix’s Havoc, in which he appeared alongside Tom Hardy. Dan Chupong has been associated with Thai action cinema and is known for his work in films including Ong Bak.
The Indian cast includes Adil Hussain, Sarah Jane Dias, Vikram Kochar and Anshuman Jha. The combination brings together performers from India and across Asia.
The Monkey At The Centre Of The Story
Despite the large-scale action, the environmental theme remains central to the film. Lakadbaggha 2 revolves around the endangered Yaki monkey and the broader issue of wildlife trafficking.
Anshuman Jha described the movie as a “love letter to the environment” and highlighted the sharp decline in the Yaki monkey population. According to the filmmaker, the population has fallen from nearly 50,000 in 1990 to fewer than 5,000 today.
The sequel therefore uses the action genre to bring attention to wildlife conservation while continuing the fictional vigilante story.
From Indian Vigilante Story To Global Action Franchise
The original Lakadbaggha was built around a relatively unusual Bollywood premise: an animal lover who becomes a vigilante to protect animals from cruelty. The sequel expands that concept geographically and stylistically.
The film is an India–Indonesia co-production and takes the story into Southeast Asia, with West Java forming part of its setting. Its international cast and martial arts elements are designed to broaden the franchise beyond its Indian origins.
The sequel was also previously presented to international distributors at the Marché du Film during Cannes 2026.
What The Festival Selection Means For The Film
The Razor Reel selection puts Lakadbaggha 2 within an international genre-film environment that has historically featured action, horror and martial arts cinema.
Festival director Patrick Van Hauwaert praised the film’s hand-to-hand combat and its focus on illegal wildlife smuggling. He said the movie reminded him of the martial arts cinema of his youth while also carrying an environmental message.
For Anshuman Jha, the selection is particularly meaningful because the festival has a history of action and martial arts films. He said he hopes the film can help open another door for Indian action cinema internationally.
Lakadbaggha 2 Release Plans
Following its international festival journey, Lakadbaggha 2: The Monkey Business is expected to arrive in theatres in November 2026, according to current Bollywood Hungama listings.
The film now has an interesting combination of elements: an Indian vigilante protagonist, international martial arts performers, an India–Indonesia production connection and an environmental storyline built around an endangered animal.
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