Malayalam actor Tovino Thomas has stepped away from the highly-anticipated Prashanth Neel-Jr NTR movie, reportedly titled Dragon, citing scheduling conflicts.
The actor confirmed his exit during a promotional event for his upcoming Malayalam movie Pallichattambi in Hyderabad.
What Tovino Said
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Reason for Exit | Scheduling issues |
| His Preference | “In Malayalam, we finish movies in one go. At the same time, I like to do one movie at a time.” |
| Time Commitment | “I can give a film three months of time, not more than that.” |
| Impact of Longer Commitments | “If I give a movie one year, four-five other projects of mine will get affected.” |
“It’s hard to allocate dates, so I am not doing it,” Tovino said.
He explained his working style: “In Malayalam, we finish movies in one go. At the same time, I like to do one movie at a time. If I give a movie one year, four-five other projects of mine will get affected. I can give a film three months of time, not more than that.”
About the Project
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Director | Prashanth Neel (KGF, Salaar) |
| Lead Actor | Jr NTR |
| Reported Title | Dragon |
| Production Start | 2025 |
| Original Release Date | June 2026 (status uncertain after Tovino’s exit) |
The highly-anticipated film went on floors in 2025 after Jr NTR confirmed in 2022 that he would be collaborating with Prashanth Neel for a project. The makers had announced that the Telugu film (to be dubbed in multiple languages) would release in June 2026, but it remains to be seen if the makers stick to the date following Tovino’s exit.
Tovino’s Upcoming Project
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Film | Pallichattambi |
| Director | Dijo Jose Antony |
| Genre | Action-driven historic drama |
| Release Date | April 10, 2026 |
Tovino was in Hyderabad to promote Pallichattambi, directed by Dijo Jose Antony. The film is touted to be an action-driven historic drama and is set to hit the screens on April 10, 2026.
Jr NTR’s Recent Work
Jr NTR was last seen in War 2, also starring Hrithik Roshan. The Ayan Mukerji directorial Bollywood film, released on August 14, had a disappointing run at the box office.
