Jr NTR's film with Prashanth Neel titled 'Dragon'; glimpse video out
Synopsis
Prashanth Neel and Jr NTR's collaboration finally has a name — 'Dragon' — and the birthday glimpse video makes one thing clear: this is not a conventional hero's story. NTR plays Luger, the Assassin-in-Chief of an Afghan opium cartel, in a globe-spanning crime saga with Anil Kapoor and Biju Menon. The June 2026 release is shaping up as one of Indian cinema's most ambitious action spectacles.
Key Takeaways
Jr NTR and Prashanth Neel 's film is officially titled 'Dragon' , announced on 20 May — the actor's birthday.
Jr NTR plays Luger (Dragon), the Assassin-in-Chief of the Afghan Trading Company , in a global opium war narrative.
Anil Kapoor plays Narcotics Bureau chief Raghuveer Rathod ; Biju Menon plays Jaleel Rahman , Afghanistan Logistics Head.
The film's release was postponed from 25 June 2025 to 11 June 2026 .
Produced by Mythri Movie Makers and NTR Arts ; music by Ravi Basrur .
Actor Jr NTR and director Prashanth Neel's much-anticipated collaboration has officially been titled 'Dragon', with the makers releasing a gripping glimpse video on 20 May — Jr NTR's birthday — to mark the occasion. The film, produced by Mythri Movie Makers in association with NTR Arts, is now set to release on 11 June 2026, having been pushed back from its original date of 25 June 2025.
What the Glimpse Video Reveals
The glimpse opens with a sweeping historical voiceover tracing Britain's colonial interest in India to its control over opium poppy cultivation — specifically in Afghanistan and the Golden Triangle region spanning Thailand, Laos, and Burma. After the British departure, the narration explains, a fierce global opium war erupted between two dominant entities: the Afghan Trading Company and the Golden Triangle.
Jr NTR is introduced as Luger, also known as Dragon — the Assassin-in-Chief of the Afghan Trading Company. His screen presence is described as both menacing and majestic, and he delivers a chilling line in the video: 'When I shut my eyes to sleep, I don't see the faces of the people I have killed. I only see the faces of the enemies remaining. Don't even by mistake appear in my dreams!'
Cast and Characters
The glimpse also introduces the wider ensemble. Anil Kapoor plays Raghuveer Rathod, Chief of the Narcotics Bureau, while Biju Menon portrays Jaleel Rahman, the Afghanistan Logistics Head. The casting signals a pan-India scope for the project, with major names from Bollywood and Malayalam cinema alongside the Telugu superstar.
Jr NTR Shares on X
Jr NTR took to his X timeline to share the glimpse video, writing: 'And then… The DEVIL WAS BORN. #DragonGlimpse #Dragon @AnilKapoor #PrashanthNeel @rukminitweets #BijuMenon @ravibasrur @MythriOfficial @NTRArtsOfficial @DragonMovieOffl @TSeries.' The post drew an immediate and enthusiastic response from fans across the country.
Production and Background
Jr NTR joined the sets of Dragon on 22 April 2024. The film is jointly produced by Kalyan Ram Nandamuri, Naveen Yerneni, Ravi Shankar Yalamanchili, and Hari Krishna Kosaraju, with music composed by Ravi Basrur. The project has generated considerable anticipation since its announcement, given Prashanth Neel's track record with high-octane action narratives. With the title reveal and glimpse now out, Dragon is firmly in the spotlight ahead of its mid-2026 release.
Point of View
And Dragon's Luger appears to push that template even further into morally ambiguous territory. Casting Jr NTR, one of Telugu cinema's most beloved mass heroes, as an assassin for a drug cartel is a deliberate provocation, and the birthday release of the glimpse is a calculated marketing move designed to maximise fan amplification. The postponement from June 2025 to June 2026 suggests the scale of production demands time — and raises the stakes considerably for what is already one of the most expensive Telugu productions in the pipeline. Whether the opium-war backdrop, which brushes against real geopolitical sensitivities, draws regulatory scrutiny closer to release is a question worth watching.
NationPress
5 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the title of Jr NTR and Prashanth Neel's film?
The film is titled 'Dragon'. The title was announced on 20 May — Jr NTR's birthday — along with the release of a glimpse video introducing the story and characters.
What role does Jr NTR play in Dragon?
Jr NTR plays Luger, also known as Dragon, the Assassin-in-Chief of the Afghan Trading Company — one of two major entities in a fictional global opium war. His character is described as menacing and majestic in the glimpse video.
Who else is in the cast of Dragon?
Anil Kapoor plays Raghuveer Rathod, the Chief of the Narcotics Bureau, and Biju Menon plays Jaleel Rahman, the Afghanistan Logistics Head. The film features a pan-India cast alongside Jr NTR.
When is Dragon releasing?
Dragon is now scheduled to release on 11 June 2026. The film was originally slated for 25 June 2025 before being postponed.
Who is producing Dragon?
Dragon is produced by Mythri Movie Makers in association with NTR Arts. The joint producers are Kalyan Ram Nandamuri, Naveen Yerneni, Ravi Shankar Yalamanchili, and Hari Krishna Kosaraju, with music by Ravi Basrur.
