First Ray Films, the Mumbai-based independent production company founded by actor-producer-director Anshuman Jha, has unveiled a six-film slate as it marks its 10th anniversary.
The company has produced genre films including social media thriller “Mona_Darling” (2016), LGBTQ+ road trip film “Hum Bhi Akele, Tum Bhi Akele” (2020), and action film “Lakadbaggha” (2023).
Three films are scheduled for theatrical release over the next six months. Jha’s directorial debut, the black comedy thriller “Lord Curzon Ki Haveli,” followed by Harish Vyas’s “Hari Ka Om” and sequel “Lakadbaggha 2,” which completed production earlier this year.
The company will also begin production on three new projects in 2026, working with both established and debut directors. The slate includes an untitled noir-thriller set in Mumbai at the cusp of the millennium about twins, to be directed by “an award-winning firebrand Indian film maker,” “Bajrangi,” directed by Parth Saurabh (“Pokhar Ke Dunu Paar”), and “Ovi & The Monk,” the debut feature from Jasraj Padhaye.
“Ovi & The Monk” centers on a boy who travels across the Himalayas to reunite a dog with its owner following his father’s death during the pandemic. “Bajrangi” is set in Bihar and examines themes of service and tradition in contemporary India.
“I have always believed that films don’t fail, budgets fail,” said Jha. “For us to have survived for over a decade is a testament to the audiences who are willing to embrace stories that are fresh, disruptive, and honest. I am deeply grateful to our investors whose faith has kept us going — their belief proves that films can not only make a cultural impact but also be a profitable game in the long run, much like what A24 has shown globally.”
Jha added: “My hope is to turn it into an ecosystem that survives beyond me. We aren’t creating projects, we are creating honest cinema — in collaboration with talent from all around the globe — which will stand the test of time — hopefully. Our slate is bold, disruptive and hopefully unforgettable.”
