After the lukewarm response to War 2, many in the film industry are rethinking what went wrong. The action thriller, which paired Hrithik Roshan with Telugu
superstar Jr NTR under the YRF Spy Universe banner, was expected to set the box office on fire. Instead, the film’s mixed reception has prompted Jr NTR to carefully reassess his next steps in Bollywood while shifting focus back to the Telugu industry, where his fanbase remains the strongest.
War 2's impact on Jr NTR's career
Insiders reveal that the actor is becoming more selective about the scripts he considers. He reportedly wants stories that highlight his image as a mass entertainer but also carry emotional weight. The plan, sources say, is to strike the right balance between large-scale, pan-India projects and grounded storytelling that connects across audiences.
A source close to the actor told India Today, “Jr NTR is taking his time before signing his next few projects. After RRR, expectations are at a different level, and War 2 not working has made him even more conscious about what audiences want from him. He wants films that bring him back to his mass base.”
Trade analyst Ramesh Bala also weighed in on NTR’s next moves. He told the same news portal, “I think his next will be a Telugu movie. He has to collaborate with a strong director - either a big Telugu or a Tamil director. He should do a film that has a mass appeal like Pushpa.”
Currently, industry chatter suggests that NTR’s main focus is his upcoming collaboration with KGF director Prashanth Neel, tentatively titled Dragon. The film is already being spoken of as one of the most-awaited pan-India releases.
Sharing his views on this team-up, Bala added, “He has Prashanth Neel’s project, which is a huge one. Since Neel is the director of KGF, it’s definitely a prestigious and safe bet. Obviously, no one can predict the outcome, but the interest surrounding the film will be massive.”
There’s also ongoing speculation about Devara 2, the continuation of Koratala Siva’s big-scale drama. Addressing this, Bala clarified, “As for Devara 2 being shelved, there's no official word on it. We’ll know more once the NTR - Neel project ends. If he moves ahead with another film after Dragon, then Devara 2 might not happen. For now, we’ll have to wait a few more months to see where things go.”
