Actor-filmmaker Anshuman Jha's Mumbai production company First Ray Films is plotting an ambitious expansion. The banner just unveiled six films spanning 2026 to 2028, timed with its entry into a second decade of operation.
The slate arrives at Cannes Film Market this May, a strategic move to court international buyers and co-production partners. Two titles land in Indian theaters this year, including "Om Ka Hari," signaling that First Ray Films operates across both domestic and global markets.
The timing matters. Indian independent production companies rarely maintain this kind of sustained output and international visibility. That Jha is leveraging Cannes, not just domestic festivals, tells you where First Ray is positioning itself in the industry hierarchy.
This isn't a vanity project from an actor looking to produce his own vehicles. The six-picture commitment suggests backing, infrastructure, and a genuine slate strategy. Whether these films find audiences beyond festival circuits and art-house distribution remains the real test. But announcing production plans at Cannes signals serious ambitions.