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. The film’s official social media handles had earlier 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.”
About Shahid Kapoor’s work front
The actor will be next seen in Cocktail 2 with Rashmika Mandanna and Kriti Sanon. Recently, the makers released the first song, which went viral among fans. It was giving the vibe of the Tumhi Ho Bandhu song. Cocktail 2 is positioned as a spiritual sequel to the 2012 hit Cocktail, which starred Saif Ali Khan, Deepika Padukone, and Diana Penty. Cocktail 2 has been shot across multiple locations, including Sicily in Italy and several places in Delhi and North India, such as Chhatarpur, Gurugram, and South Delhi. The film is directed by Homi Adajania, produced by Maddock Films, and written by Luv Ranjan. The film is scheduled to release in theatres on June 19.
