NTRNeel (Dragon), starring Jr NTR in the lead, is currently in production under the direction of Prashanth Neel. Fresh reports now suggest that Shahid Kapoor may join the film as its primary antagonist, replacing Tovino Thomas.
According to Telugu Chitraalu, Kapoor is in discussions with the makers and is being considered for the key negative role following Thomas’s reported exit from the project. However, there has been no official confirmation regarding the casting so far.
Thomas was previously expected to feature in the upcoming Telugu action film but recently confirmed that he opted out due to scheduling conflicts with his Malayalam commitments.
The film was initially slated for a theatrical release on 25 June 2026, though it now appears likely to miss that date. A revised release schedule is yet to be announced. While the full cast has not been officially revealed, Rukmini Vasanth is expected to play the female lead, with Anil Kapoor reportedly taking on a pivotal role.
Jr NTR was last seen in a prominent role in War 2, alongside Hrithik Roshan. Directed by Ayan Mukerji, the film is a sequel to the 2019 hit War and forms part of the expanding YRF Spy Universe. The ensemble cast also includes Kiara Advani, Anil Kapoor and Varun Badola, among others, and is currently available to stream on Netflix.
Looking ahead, Jr NTR will next be seen in NTRNeel, for which he has reportedly undergone a significant physical transformation.
Meanwhile, Shahid Kapoor was most recently seen leading O’Romeo, co-starring Triptii Dimri, Nana Patekar, Avinash Tiwary, Tamannaah Bhatia and Disha Patani.
He is next set to appear alongside Kriti Sanon and Rashmika Mandanna in Cocktail 2, a standalone sequel scheduled for release on 19 June 2026.