Indian action franchise Lakadbaggha 2 – The Monkey Business is breaking new ground. The sequel will become the first Indian martial arts film to premiere at Belgium’s Razor Reel Flanders Film Fest in Bruges. It has also officially joined the festival’s 2026 lineup.
The film continues the unusual vigilante story from the original. However, this time, the scale is much bigger.
The sequel brings in international martial arts stars. It also expands beyond India and adds a strong environmental message.
For director and star Anshuman Jha, this is another major step for the franchise. After catching the attention of programmers at Cannes 2026’s Marché du Film, Lakadbaggha 2 is now heading to a major European genre festival.
How Razor Reel Discovered Lakadbaggha 2
The Razor Reel programming team discovered Lakadbaggha 2 at Cannes. Soon after, the film’s raw action and international martial arts style caught their attention.
Its environmental storyline also stood out. Together, these elements showed the potential of an Indian genre film with an international appeal.
As a result, the sequel earned a place in the festival’s 2026 programme. The selection will give the film an opportunity to introduce its unique blend of Indian storytelling and Asian action cinema to a wider audience.
Festival Director Patrick Van Hauwaert was particularly impressed by the film.
“Watching Lakadbaggha 2 felt like a journey back to the golden age of martial arts cinema from my youth,” he said.
He also praised the hand-to-hand combat. Additionally, he highlighted the film’s focus on illegal wildlife smuggling.
According to Van Hauwaert, the environmental theme adds another layer to the action. Therefore, the fights are connected to a larger story about wildlife and its protection.
Anshuman Jha Returns as Director and Lead
Anshuman Jha is taking on two major roles in Lakadbaggha 2. He directs the sequel and returns as Arjun Bakshi, the animal-loving vigilante from the first film.
The project also marks Jha’s return to directing after Lord Curzon Ki Haveli. More importantly, it allows him to expand the world he created with Lakadbaggha.
This time, however, the story goes much further. The Indian vigilante narrative is combined with the visual style and physical intensity of Asian martial arts cinema.
As a result, the sequel aims to deliver a larger action experience while keeping the original character at its centre.
International Martial Arts Stars Join the Cast
The sequel also features an impressive international cast. Chinese martial arts star Sunny Pang is among the biggest additions.
Pang is known for films such as Headshot. He also appeared in Netflix’s Havoc alongside Tom Hardy.
His presence adds international action experience to the project. Meanwhile, Thai martial arts icon Dan Chupong also joins the film.
Chupong is widely known for his work in Ong Bak. Therefore, his involvement further strengthens the film’s connection to Asian martial arts cinema.
The Indian cast includes acclaimed actors Adil Hussain, Sarah Jane Dias and Vikram Kochar. Jha once again leads the ensemble as Arjun Bakshi.
Together, the cast reflects the sequel’s international ambition. Rather than remaining a domestic action story, Lakadbaggha 2 brings performers from India and across Asia into one cinematic world.
An Environmental Message at Its Core
Although action drives Lakadbaggha 2, the story has another important focus. At its heart is the endangered Yaki Monkey.
Jha has described the film as a love letter to the environment. The team wanted to use the action genre to tell a story about endangered wildlife.
The numbers are particularly striking. According to the filmmakers, the Yaki Monkey population has fallen from nearly 50,000 in 1990 to fewer than 5,000 today.
That real-world concern forms an important part of the fictional story. Therefore, the action has a purpose beyond entertainment.
The film uses its vigilante narrative to highlight wildlife protection. At the same time, it aims to make the message accessible to audiences across borders.
From Local Hero to Global Franchise
The first Lakadbaggha introduced a different kind of action hero. Instead of following a conventional protagonist, it focused on an animal lover who becomes a vigilante.
Now, the sequel takes that idea much further.
Geographically, the film expands beyond India. Stylistically, it also draws heavily from Asian martial arts.
Moreover, Lakadbaggha 2 marks an India–Indonesia co-production. This further strengthens the franchise’s international identity.
However, animals remain at the centre of the story. That balance between high-energy action and animal welfare gives the franchise a distinctive identity.
A Major Step for Indian Action Cinema
The Razor Reel selection is significant for another reason. The festival has featured action and martial arts films in the past. However, Lakadbaggha 2 marks the first Indian martial arts film to be selected for the festival.
For Jha and his team, the moment represents more than another festival screening. It creates an opportunity to showcase Indian action cinema to an international genre audience.
The filmmaker also hopes the film can open more doors for Indian action stories overseas.
Meanwhile, the combination of Indian storytelling and Asian martial arts gives the sequel a broader cinematic language. This could help the franchise connect with audiences beyond its home market.
The Franchise Already Has an International History
The original Lakadbaggha also had a strong festival journey. The film opened at the Kolkata International Film Festival.
It later had its international premiere at SAIFF New York. Jha also won the Best Actor honour at the festival in 2023.
Now, Lakadbaggha 2 is taking the franchise into another international market. Its Razor Reel Flanders premiere builds on the momentum created by the first film.
At the same time, the sequel introduces a larger cast and a much wider action canvas.
Anshuman Jha’s Bigger Vision
For Jha, Lakadbaggha has always been more than a conventional action franchise.
The original film centred on an animal lover who becomes a vigilante. With the sequel, Jha wanted to retain that unusual foundation while increasing the scale.
Therefore, Lakadbaggha 2 combines action with environmental storytelling. It also brings together performers from different parts of Asia.
The result is a film that aims to work as both an action spectacle and a wildlife-focused story.
Jha has also expressed hope that the film can help Indian action cinema reach more international audiences.
What Makes Lakadbaggha 2 Different?
At first glance, Lakadbaggha 2 may look like a typical action sequel. However, its combination of themes sets it apart.
The film features an Indian vigilante. It also brings together martial arts performers from India, China and Thailand.
In addition, it is an India–Indonesia co-production. Most importantly, its story focuses on endangered wildlife.
That combination gives Lakadbaggha 2 a distinct identity. It blends Indian action storytelling with Asian martial arts while carrying a message about animal protection.
Lakadbaggha 2 Heads to the Global Stage
With its Razor Reel Flanders selection, Lakadbaggha 2 – The Monkey Business is entering an important new chapter.
The film brings together Indian vigilante mythology, international martial arts and environmental storytelling. It also features a cast designed to appeal to audiences across borders.
Now, the franchise is preparing to introduce Arjun Bakshi and his latest mission to a European genre audience.
As the world premiere approaches, all eyes will be on how Lakadbaggha 2 expands the franchise’s unique blend of action, wildlife and international cinema.
Stay tuned for more updates on Lakadbaggha 2 and its journey from India to the global stage.
About the author
Neha Nikharge is Assistant Editor at Awesome TV and a writer for AWSM Times. Neha covers Bollywood, OTT releases, celebrity interviews and pop culture for South Asian audiences in the US and around the world, and has written more than 4,500 stories for Awesome TV. Story tips and corrections: hello@awesometv.com.
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