Adil Hussain replaces Milind Soman as the Sensei In ‘Lakadbaggha 2: The Monkey Business’ - Reports

In a notable casting change, acclaimed actor Adil Hussain has joined ‘Lakadbaggha 2: The Monkey Business’, taking over the role of the sensei from Milind Soman. The sequel to ‘Lakadbaggha’, led by Anshuman Jha, is gearing up for release next year and signals a growing trend of character recasting within expanding cinematic universes.Across global cinema, audiences are familiar with characters being portrayed by multiple actors, from James Bond to Superman and Spider-Man. Indian films are now exploring similar territory, and the ‘Lakadbaggha’ universe is emerging as a frontrunner in this space. Known as the world’s first animal lover vigilante universe, ‘Lakadbaggha’ completed the shoot of its sequel in June 2025. The scale of the project expanded significantly, especially with Anshuman Jha also stepping in as a director this time.

A larger, darker role for Sensei

Adil Hussain is a high-profile actor in many parts of the world because of his performance as "Life Of Pi." The sequel, 'Lakadbaggha 2: The Monkey Business,' is an extremely different type of film than the first one. In "Lakadbaggha 2: The Monkey Business," the character that Adil Hussain plays, Sensei, is much larger than in the first movie and plays an important role in helping to shape the path of the protagonist.'Lakadbaggha 2: The Monkey Business' plans to have multiple lead stars from different countries around the world who are 'martial arts action stars.'

These stars include Sunny Pang, who starred in "Headshot" as well as "Havoc," and Dan Chupong, who was in "Ong-Bak." The movie also features other Indian actors, including Sarah Jane Dias, Vikram Kochar, and Anshuman Jha, who returns to play Arjun Bakshi as he turns from an ordinary citizen into a vigilante animal lover.

Adil Hussain on joining the franchise

Speaking about his association with the film, Adil Hussain shared, “Watching ‘Lakadbaggha-1’ was so inspiring.

It felt like someone was finally making a film that stood up for the rights of animals, something we haven’t seen in decades, perhaps since ‘Haathi Mere Saathi’ in the seventies. I also had the good fortune of working with Anshuman Jha, both under his direction and as a co-actor. The martial arts training and action sequences were challenging, but Anshuman has been incredibly supportive and generous throughout the process.

I’m truly grateful to be part of the ‘Lakadbaggha’ franchise.”Adding depth to its growing mythology, the ‘Lakadbaggha’ comic book universe, launched last year, continues to expand alongside the films. This parallel storytelling further strengthens the franchise’s vision of building a multi-format Indian action universe with global appeal.

Release plans

‘Lakadbaggha 2: The Monkey Business’ is scheduled for a mid-2026 release. With its blend of high-octane action, moral conscience, and a strong message around animal welfare, the franchise continues to carve out a distinctive space in contemporary Indian cinema as it enters its next chapter.