The much-anticipated collaboration between Jr NTR and filmmaker Prashanth Neel has hit a slight roadblock. According to the latest reports, the film has been delayed by nearly a year, pushing its expected
timeline further than initially planned. The team is now gearing up to unveil the film’s first glimpse on May 20.
Taking to his Instagram handle, Jr NTR shared the poster and announced the new release date. “HIS REIGN… HIS SOIL…JUNE 11, 2027… IT IS…. #NTRNeel,” read the caption. He also mentioned that the first glimpse of the film will be out on May 20. Fans also reacted with fire emojis. Earlier, the film’s official social media handles had announced a theatrical release date of June 26, 2026, sharing the message: “26 June 2026…The Most striking tale ever to erupt from the Soil of Indian Cinema. A special glimpse for the Man of Masses @tarak9999’s birthday. #NTRNeel.”
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Shahid Kapoor To Play Antagonist In Jr NTR’s Next?
Rumours of an exciting new casting twist have set the internet buzzing, with reports suggesting that Shahid Kapoor might step into an antagonist role in Jr NTR’s tentatively titled Dragon. It is being directed by Prashanth Neel. While there has been no official confirmation yet, the speculation alone has sparked massive excitement among fans. However, if things go as planned, then this might be his debut in the South industry.
Pinkvilla quoted Telugu Chitraalu report mentioning that Shahid Kapoor is currently in talks with the makers of NTRNeel. Reportedly, he is being considered for the film after Tovino Thomas exited the project. But still, an official confirmation is awaited. The news has surfaced after Tovino Thomas quit the film. He confirmed that he is no longer associated with the upcoming Telugu film, widely referred to as Dragon. Speaking during promotions for his Malayalam film Pallichattambi in Hyderabad, Tovino addressed speculation about his involvement and clarified his decision to step away from the film. “It is really hard to allocate dates, so I am not doing it,” he said. He further explained the scheduling challenges that influenced his choice, highlighting differences in working styles across industries. “I don’t do multiple films at once. In Malayalam, we finish a film in one schedule. But in Telugu, a single project takes almost a year. I can give 3 months, not an entire year,” he said.
All about the film
The film, which brings together Jr NTR and filmmaker Prashanth Neel, was officially announced on the actor’s birthday in 2022. Production began with a pooja ceremony in Hyderabad on August 9, and the project has since generated considerable anticipation. Jr NTR reportedly joined the sets on April 22 after completing work on his Bollywood debut War 2, directed by Ayan Mukerji and co-starring Hrithik Roshan. While the title Dragon has been widely circulated, the makers have not officially confirmed it.
