For a long time, speculation around the much-awaited collaboration between Jr. NTR and director Prashanth Neel created confusion among fans and industry circles. Over the past few months, several unverified reports suggested that NTR was unhappy with the footage shot so far. Some reports claimed that a star actor had been removed from the project. Others said the shooting schedule was in disarray. These rumors naturally caused panic among fans. No official clarity came from the team during this period.
At the same time, NTR’s physical transformation for the film, tentatively titled Dragon, became a major worry. His lean, rugged and intense look initially surprised fans. It also led to concerns about his health. Those doubts have now been put to rest. The film’s team claims that NTR is sporting a super lean and fit physique that clearly reflects his commitment to the role and Prashanth Neel’s demanding vision.
From this Saturday, a fresh shooting schedule officially began at Ramoji Film City in Hyderabad. NTR and Prashanth Neel are currently filming important portions of the movie. This confirms that the project is firmly back on track. This update has brought much needed relief and excitement to fans who were waiting for concrete progress.
The film also features Malayalam star Tovino Thomas in a key role. This strengthens its pan Indian appeal. Kannada actress Rukmini Vasanth plays the female lead opposite NTR. Based on the current progress, it is now clear that the film will not meet the earlier speculative Republic Day release date on January 26.
Meanwhile, fans have begun discussing the ideal release window. The first week of December has emerged as a golden slot in recent years. Animal in 2023 dominated the box office. Pushpa 2 The Rule in 2024 shattered records. Dhurandhar in 2025 is continuing the trend with extraordinary collections. It is on a dream run right now and could emerge the highest grossing Hindi film by beating Pushpa 2.
Given this pattern, many fans strongly believe that Dragon should target a first week of December release next year. The big question now is whether the makers will lock this lucrative window. Another question is whether any major film will dare to clash with NTR and Prashanth Neel at the box office.
