Malayalam star Tovino Thomas has officially confirmed his departure from Jr NTR’s highly anticipated pan-India project, tentatively titled Dragon. The actor, who was reportedly set to play the primary antagonist in the Prashanth Neel directorial, cited significant differences in production schedules and industry working cultures as the primary reasons for his exit. ‘Dragon’: Anil Kapoor To Lock Horns With Jr NTR in Prashanth Neel’s Upcoming Film? Here’s What We Know.

Tovino Thomas Exits Jr NTR’s ‘Dragon’

Speaking at a promotional event for his upcoming Malayalam film Pallichattambi in Hyderabad on Tuesday, Thomas addressed the long-standing rumours regarding his involvement in the big-budget actioner. He stated that while he was initially part of the project, the demand for extensive dates made it impossible for him to continue."

It is really hard to allocate dates, so I am not doing it," Thomas told reporters. The actor revealed that the film required a commitment of nearly a year, a timeframe he was unable to accommodate alongside his existing projects in the Malayalam film industry.

Differences in Tollywood and Mollywood Production Styles

The Minnal Murali actor elaborated on his decision by highlighting the contrasting operational styles between the Malayalam and Telugu film industries. In the Malayalam industry, films are often completed in a single, continuous schedule lasting roughly three months. In contrast, major Telugu productions frequently utilise multiple schedules spread over a year or more.

Thomas emphasised his preference for a focused workflow, stating, "I don't do multiple films at once. In Malayalam, we finish a film in one schedule. But in Telugu, a single project takes almost a year. I can give three months, but not an entire year."He further noted that committing to such a long-duration project in Tollywood would have forced him to break multiple commitments back home, which he was unwilling to do.

Tovino Thomas on Exiting ‘Dragon’ - Watch Video

Impact on ‘Dragon’ Production

The exit of Tovino Thomas marks a significant change for Dragon, which is being directed by Prashanth Neel (known for the KGF series and Salaar). Early reports suggested that Thomas had already begun physical training and martial arts practice for a high-octane face-off with Jr NTR, which was scheduled to be filmed in Jordan. Prakash Raj Takes Dig at Allu Arjun, Jr NTR for Praising Ranveer Singh’s ‘Dhurandhar 2’, Calls Their Support ‘Signs of Obligations’ (View Posts).

Dragon marks the first collaboration between Jr NTR and Prashanth Neel. The film was officially announced on the actor's birthday in 2022 and has a tentative theatrical release date of early 2027.

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