Jr NTR is Dragon, unleashes fury in gritty 1st look set in pre-independence era. Watch

The makers of NTRNeel unveiled a new Jr NTR poster before the film's first glimpse launch. The release has sharpened fan curiosity around Prashanth Neel's world ahead of NTR's birthday reveal.

In Short

• First glimpse of Dragon unveiled before Jr NTR's birthday on May 19
• Jr NTR plays Luger, Assassin-in-Chief of Afghan Trading Company
• Directed by Prashanth Neel, releasing June 11, 2027, worldwide

The first glimpse of Dragon, starring Jr NTR and directed by Prashanth Neel, was unveiled minutes before the Telugu star's birthday on May 19, confirming the film’s title and offering a powerful introduction to the actor’s character ahead of his birthday.

Previously referred to as NTR-Neel, the project now officially goes by Dragon. The glimpse presents Jr NTR in an intense, larger-than-life avatar, hinting at a gritty, high-stakes world while keeping key plot details under wraps. The reveal arrived minutes before his birthday, turning into a major moment for fans online.

The glimpse offers a brief but telling look at the film’s world, set in 1967 against the backdrop of the Golden Triangle and the opium trade.

Here's the announcement post:

About Dragon teaser

Jr NTR is introduced as Luger, the Assassin-in-Chief of the Afghan Trading Company, a character that appears to sit at the centre of the conflict. Opposite him, Anil Kapoor plays Raghuveer Rathod, the Chief of India’s Narcotics Bureau.

The narrative hints at a tense power struggle between the Afghan Trading Company and the Golden Trading Company, while also setting up a network of formidable antagonists, suggesting a story driven by high-stakes clashes and shifting loyalties.

Watch the four-minute glimpse here:

Ahead of the launch, the makers had built anticipation with posters and cryptic teasers. A silhouette poster shared by Mythri Movie Makers showed the actor in a brooding avatar, accompanied by a note to “Tiger Nation” that spoke of “happiness, hunger and emotion” building up ahead of the reveal. The team also hinted that the glimpse would present the star “like never before.”

Another still, featuring a lone man standing in a desert with a stick, added to speculation about the film’s setting and tone. The caption – “The calm before the...” – further fuelled discussion on social media.

All about Dragon

Directed by Prashanth Neel, best known for the KGF films, Dragon marks his first collaboration with Jr NTR. The film is produced by Mythri Movie Makers and NTR Arts and will release in multiple languages.

The upcoming Telugu film also stars Biju Menon, Rukmini Vasanth, Khushbu Sundar and Guru Somasundaram. With the title now revealed and the first glimpse out, Dragon will hit theatres globally on June 11, 2027.

- Ends