Actor-filmmaker Anshuman Jha, who previously appeared in Lord Curzon Ki Haveli, is now moving ahead with big plans with his production house First Ray Films. Recently, the actor-filmmaker announced a slate of 6 films under the company.
The slate commences with Om Ka Hari, directed by Harish Vyas, which is slated for theatrical release later this year. Besides Anshuman, it stars Raghubir Yadav, Soni Razdan, and Ayesha Kapur. The 2026 slate for the banner also includes Lakadbaggha 2: The Monkey Business, the official sequel to Anshuman’s 2023 film Lakahbaggha, expanding the vigilante universe. Set for November release this year, the sequel additionally stars Adil Hussain and Sarah Jane Dias.
In the next two years, First Ray Films has in the pipeline films like Bajrangi, directed by Parth Saurabh, the shoot for which has been wrapped and Bhadyaa, directed by Pramod Parashar.
In another exciting collaboration, Devashish Makhija will be directing But First, The Burning, which is mounted as an International co-production with ROH Films and Lamas Productions. Devashish said, “What First Ray stands for in today’s scene is rare — a producer who doesn’t just pull out all stops to protect the filmmaker’s voice, but constructs wings to push it higher and further. Something increasingly difficult to find. Our collaboration is about telling a story that is stubbornly rooted, yet globally resonant.”
The 2028 slate also includes Dhoori, directed by Rumana Molla. These 6 films are being planned for release from 2026 to 2028. The 6-film-slate will also be showcased at Marche Du Dilm at Cannes Film Festival which will be held next month.
2026 marks the beginning of second decade for First Ray Films. The production company was founded in 2016, with the film Mona Darling, a social-media-age thriller that stood apart from mainstream conventions.
Speaking on the milestone, Anshuman Jha said, “The first decade was about discovering our voice. The next decade is about amplifying it, backing stories that matter, filmmakers who take risks, and cinema that can travel across borders without losing its soul. We’re not chasing trends, we’re building a space where authenticity leads. At the heart of this is also the aim to create an ecosystem for young filmmakers — one that empowers and educates them on the importance of marketing and distribution so that great stories don’t just get made, but truly reach audiences. Backing actors like Abhinav Jha and Samta Sudiksha, who bring honesty to their craft, is as important as backing the stories themselves.”