Return of the Jungle 2026

Return of the Jungle is an Indian animated family film directed by Vaibhav Kumaresh and produced by Vaibhav Studios. Inspired by the Panchatantra and Indian folktales, the film was released in Indian theatres on May 29, 2026. Set in contemporary India, it follows a group of fourth-grade classmates—Mihir, Rohan, Sweety, Ali, and their friends—who struggle with school, friendships, and bullying. Their lives are shaped by Thatha, a cheerful grandfather figure whose stories from the jungle encourage them to face their problems with courage and teamwork.

• Release Date: May 29, 2026
• Director: Vaibhav Kumaresh
• Genre: Animation, Adventure, Family, Comedy
• Runtime: 1 Hour 45 Minutes
• Studio/Platform: Vaibhav Studios
• Language: Hindi

Storyline

Mihir and his friends often feel overwhelmed by the everyday problems of growing up. They must deal with school pressures, friendships, and Rahul Malhotra, the biggest bully in their class. Whenever they feel defeated, Thatha shares imaginative jungle stories filled with animals and life lessons. Through these stories, the children learn confidence, compassion, determination, and the importance of standing by one another.

Cast

• Pichai Rangaswamy as Thatha
• Jaden Mascarenhas and Izaan Mirza as Mihir
• Aryan Sharma, Anay Patil, and Sairaj Naik as Rohan
• Jhanvi Patro and Sagarika Chandrakanth as Sweety
• Rohan Yadav, Aariel Narvekar, and Arav Bhatia as Ali
• Devansh Doshi as Rahul Malhotra
• Manish Bhawan as Sharma Sir
• Saurav Chakraborty as Shikari

Production Details

Return of the Jungle was directed by Vaibhav Kumaresh, who also wrote the story and screenplay with Prosenjit Ganguly. The film was self-financed by Vaibhav Studios and took several years to complete. The project was showcased at the Cannes Film Market before its theatrical release and was promoted as a modern-day Panchatantra-inspired story rooted in Indian culture. The music was composed by Roto Shah, Narayan Parasuram, and Advait Nemlekar.

Release Date & Where to Watch

Return of the Jungle was released in Indian cinemas on May 29, 2026. The film is currently available in theatres. No official OTT platform or digital streaming release has been announced at this time.