Junior NTR apart from RRR, which was a multistarrer, has had an impressive track record in recent years.
If you look at his filmography, he stands out as the only Tier-1 star hero who hasn’t delivered an outright flop.
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However, his strategy seems to have focused on delivering “minimum guarantee” films — safe projects that resulted in either average box office returns or lukewarm critical acclaim, without making much noise.
Now, he’s back with the most happening pan-India director, Prashanth Neel — a filmmaker with a massive fan base stretching from the South to the North.
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Neel is known for presenting his heroes in a distinct, gritty style, quite unlike any other director. Naturally, expectations were sky-high for how he would portray NTR in Dragon.
But when the first glimpses of NTR’s look off screen look — a very lean appearance reminiscent of his much older film from 2008 ‘Kantri’ — the buzz quickly turned sour.
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Fans expected a rugged, power-packed transformation, but instead, what they saw poured cold water on the excitement surrounding this explosive collaboration.
Then came an unexpected turnaround.
Last night, NTR attended an RRR event in London alongside Rajamouli and Ram Charan.
Dressed in a sharp suit and sunglasses, he stunned everyone with his off-screen presence.
That look — stylish, composed, and intense — suddenly aligned with what people expect from a Prashanth Neel hero in Dragon.
Just one public appearance was enough to flip the narrative, shifting the buzz from negative to highly positive.
Dragon is being touted as one of NTR’s most powerful films with a title that screams intensity.
While his dramatic weight loss and leaner face initially failed to impress even hardcore fans, this recent appearance gave a new perspective.
In a suit and shades, he didn’t just look fresh — he looked deadly. The lean look worked in his favor this time.
Now, all eyes are on Prashanth Neel to unveil the official look of Dragon.
Until then, this unexpected twist offers much-needed relief for NTR and the entire team — the tide has finally started to turn.
