Tovino Thomas Not Part Of Jr NTR- Prashanth Neel Film Anymore Due To Date Issues

The Jr NTR–Prashanth Neel project was officially announced on the actor’s birthday in 2022 and has since generated significant buzz

Team THR India
By Team THR India
LAST UPDATED: APR 01, 2026, 14:40 IST|4 min read
Tovino Thomas
Tovino Thomas

Actor Tovino Thomas has shared an update that may surprise fans following the much-anticipated collaboration between Jr NTR and director Prashanth Neel. The Malayalam star has confirmed that he is no longer part of the upcoming Telugu film, widely referred to as Dragon.

The project, first announced in 2022, has remained one of the most talked-about films in recent years, even as official updates have not been revealed.

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Speaking during promotions for his upcoming Malayalam film Pallichattambi in Hyderabad, Tovino addressed ongoing speculation about his involvement and clarified his decision to step away. “It is really hard to allocate dates, so I am not doing it,” he said, citing scheduling constraints as the primary reason for his exit.

Elaborating further, Tovino pointed to differences in filmmaking processes 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 three months, not an entire year,” he explained.

The Jr NTR–Prashanth Neel project was officially announced on the actor’s birthday in 2022 and has since generated significant buzz. Production commenced with a pooja ceremony in Hyderabad on August 9. Jr NTR reportedly joined the sets on April 22 after wrapping up work on his Bollywood debut War 2, directed by Ayan Mukerji and co-starring Hrithik Roshan.

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Earlier, the film’s social media handles announced a theatrical release date of June 26, 2026, calling it “the most striking tale ever to erupt from the soil of Indian cinema.”

Meanwhile, Tovino also has Athiradi releasing this year with Basil Joseph. He was last seen in a cameo in Lokah Chapter One: Chandra.  It was also announced that Tovino Thomas and Nazriya Nazim would share the screen in filmmaker Muhsin Parari’s next project, adding to the growing buzz around the upcoming film. 

Parari, known for writing Virus and Thallumaala, hinted at the upcoming project by sharing a casting call on Instagram, inviting aspiring actors to audition. The film, which is yet to be officially titled, is being written by Parari in collaboration with filmmaker Zakariya, who previously directed Sudani from Nigeria and Halal Love Story.

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