Apr 27, 2026 3:11pm IST
Lakshya Returns for ‘Kill 2′, but Nikhil Nagesh Bhat Is Not Directing It (EXCLUSIVE)
“Kill,” widely regarded as the most violent film to come out of Bollywood, is returning for a second chapter. Variety India has exclusively learned that “Kill 2” is officially in the making with its lead star, Lakshya, returning to reprise his role as the relentless NSG commando, Amrit Rathod.
Dharma Productions and Sikhya Entertainment have finalized the story for the sequel, with its pre-production set to commence in September this year. The makers are apparently following the narrative model of the “Extraction” franchise, as the sequel will feature Lakshya’s character in an entirely new setting and timeline while preserving the original’s raw intensity and grounded authenticity. The film will be made on a bigger scale, promising another high-octane, close-quarters action spectacle centered on an NSG commando locked in brutal combat against a formidable gang of adversaries.
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While Lakshya will return for the lead, the director is not coming back. Sources say Nikhil Nagesh Bhat, who directed the original, will not helm the sequel, as he is committed to doing his next film with Sunny Deol, which also begins shooting around the same time. The producers are currently in discussions with several filmmakers, though no replacement has yet been finalized.
Lakshya will apparently undergo rigorous physical training to master new fighting techniques ahead of the shooting that commences in the second half of 2026. The “Bads of Bollywood” actor is currently shooting for Raj Mehta's romantic revenge drama “Lag Jaa Gale,” with Tiger Shroff and Janhvi Kapoor, and is then expected to move to “Dostana 2” before moving on to the “Kill” sequel. Casting for the other lead characters is currently underway.
“Kill” premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival in 2023, where it was the first runner-up for the People's Choice Midnight Madness Award. The film was also screened at the Tribeca Film Festival in 2024 before it was released in Indian theaters in July 2024 to a thunderous critical response. Also starring Raghav Juyal and Tanya Maniktala, the action thriller grossed nearly $60 million worldwide. The film attracted significant international attention and is already being remade in English by “John Wick” producers 87Eleven Entertainment and Lionsgate.
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