Anil Kapoor to duel With Jr NTR? ‘Animal’ actor joins Prashanth Neel’s ‘Dragon’ as the villain - Reports

The collaboration between Jr NTR and filmmaker Prashanth Neel, tentatively titled 'Dragon', is rapidly becoming one of the most anticipated pan-India spectacles of the coming years. While the project was initially aimed for a June 2026 release, recent updates as of March 18, 2026, suggest the scale has grown so massive that fans might have to wait a little longer. Here is everything we know about Anil Kapoor's casting and the film’s developing timeline.

Anil Kapoor as the main antagonist?

Anil Kapoor is set to join Jr NTR and Prashanth Neel in ‘Dragon’. According to a report by Mid-day, the ‘Animal’ actor seems to be joining as the main antagonist. Recently, Anil Kapoor and Prashanth Neel were spotted in Mumbai today. They were meeting for discussions and planning.




Additionally, the report also suggests that the film, announced for release on June 25, 2026, has been pushed to late 2026 to accommodate its mega scale.

Cast of ‘Dragon’

Speaking more about the film, it is set to feature ‘Kantara: Chapter 1’ star Rukmini Vasanth playing the female lead. If reports are true, Bollywood’s legendary actor Anil Kapoor will star opposite Jr NTR for the second time, following ‘War 2’. It is also expected to include Tovino Thomas in a key role.

Ravi Basrur hints at 2027 release

Additionally, music director Ravi Basrur recently told Variety that the film will be released in 2027. He also shared that the shoot is progressing quickly and the film itself is shaping up really well. This movie marks the first collaboration between Jr NTR and Prashanth Neel, who is known for massy action dramas featuring enormous world-building. Like his previous ‘KGF’ franchise and ‘Salaar’, the filmmaker is set to make another larger-than-life story in this coming project. On the work front, Anil Kapoor was seen in the latest action-drama film, ‘Subedaar’, which is streaming on Prime Video.Get the latest entertainment updates from the Times of India, along with the latest Hindi movies, upcoming Hindi movies in 2026 , and Telugu movies.”