After Jailer, Nelson Dilipkumar became one of the hottest directors in South cinema. At a time when Rajinikanth was going through a rough phase with back-to-back flops, Nelson gave him a massive Rs. 600-crore blockbuster and brought him back strongly. Naturally, that success also increased curiosity around Nelson’s future projects.
One of the combinations that created excitement was Nelson with Jr NTR. It was said that Nelson had given a commitment to Sithara Entertainments to do a big pan-India film with Tarak. At one stage, it looked like a very interesting possibility.
But as of now, that project looks far away.
The reason is simple. Nelson’s lineup itself has become packed.
Right now, Jailer 2 is gearing up for release in October. After completing that film, Nelson is expected to move to an even bigger project, a Rajinikanth-Kamal Haasan multistarrer. This is not a regular film. It will bring together two of South cinema’s biggest legends on screen after nearly four decades. Naturally, such a project will need a lot of time in terms of writing, planning, and execution.
That means Nelson’s immediate focus is unlikely to move anywhere else.
If everything goes as planned, the Rajini-Kamal film itself may release only in 2028. Before that, it looks difficult.
On the other hand, Jr NTR’s lineup is also full.
After Dragon, Tarak has already officially announced his big mythological film with Trivikram, tentatively titled God of War. And if there is one thing everyone knows about Trivikram, it is that he takes his own time even for regular commercial films. Now he is stepping into a much bigger visual fantasy space, so nobody can really predict how long that project will take. Realistically, even that film may not arrive before 2029.
That is why the Nelson-NTR project, even if it is still alive on paper, looks like something that may not happen for another two years or more.
Producer Naga Vamsi reportedly remains very keen on making this combination happen and does not want to let go of it easily. But ultimately, it will depend on how Nelson and Tarak manage their schedules once their current commitments are completed.
There is also another angle here.
Tamil directors have shown a lot of interest lately in working with Telugu stars, especially pan-India stars who can give their stories a much wider market. Nelson too seems interested in tapping that space with Tarak. The bigger question is what kind of script he has in mind for him.
Because Nelson has a very distinct style.
His films usually run on dark comedy, quirky characters, stylish hero elevation, and a very offbeat treatment. That tone worked brilliantly in Jailer, but it will be interesting to see what kind of story he is planning for Jr NTR, who comes with a completely different image and energy.
For now, though, fans should not expect this project to happen anytime soon.
The combo still sounds exciting. But right now, it looks more like a long-term possibility than an immediate project.
