Jr NTR is entering one of the most exciting phases of his illustrious career with a lineup that spans Bollywood debuts, pan-India sequels, and high-octane action dramas. After the global phenomenon RRR and the commercial success of Devara: Part 1, the Man of Masses has four major projects confirmed that promise to dominate box offices through 2026 and beyond. Here’s your complete guide to what’s next for Telugu cinema’s powerhouse performer.
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Jr N T R Movies Upcoming Overview
| Film | Release Date | Director | Co-Stars | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| War 2 | August 14, 2025 (Released) | Ayan Mukerji | Hrithik Roshan, Kiara Advani | Bollywood debut completed |
| Dragon (NTR 31) | January 9, 2026 | Prashanth Neel | TBA | Currently filming |
| Devara: Part 2 | 2026 (TBA) | Koratala Siva | Janhvi Kapoor, Saif Ali Khan | Pre-production |
| Nelson Project | 2027 (Tentative) | Nelson Dilipkumar | TBA | Announced, timeline unclear |
1. War 2 (2025): Bollywood Debut That Shattered Records
Released on August 14, 2025, War 2 marked Jr NTR’s much-anticipated Bollywood debut in the YRF Spy Universe. Directed by Ayan Mukerji (Brahmastra), the film pairs him with Hrithik Roshan in an action-packed spy thriller that has received praise for its high-octane sequences and explosive chemistry between the two leads.
The sequel to the 2019 blockbuster War features Hrithik Roshan reprising his role as RAW agent Major Kabir Dhaliwal, with Jr NTR and Kiara Advani joining the franchise. The film explores complex espionage operations, with NTR’s character bringing a fresh dynamic to the established Spy Universe that also includes Pathaan and Tiger franchises.
NTR trained extensively for the demanding action sequences, maintaining a specific look throughout filming that delayed his next project. The film’s success has sparked speculation about NTR potentially headlining a solo YRF Spy Universe film, though nothing has been officially confirmed.
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2. Dragon/NTR 31 (January 2026): The Prashanth Neel Collaboration
The most anticipated project in Jr NTR’s pipeline is his next film titled Dragon (2026) which will be directed by Prashanth Neel, the visionary behind KGF and Salaar. Shooting begins with NTR joining the set, targeting a Sankranthi 2026 release on January 9, produced by Mythri Movie Makers.
Reports indicate the plot draws inspiration from the life of Chinese gangster Zhao Wei, who once dominated the Golden Triangle region spanning Thailand and Myanmar. This marks a significant departure from NTR’s recent roles, promising a dark, gritty underworld drama that showcases Prashanth Neel’s signature intense filmmaking style.
Music composer Ravi Basrur, who created the thunderous soundtracks for KGF and Salaar, returns to craft Dragon’s electrifying score. The combination of NTR’s mass appeal, Neel’s directorial prowess, and Basrur’s powerful music positions Dragon as one of 2026’s most anticipated pan-India releases.
The film’s January 9, 2026 release strategically targets the Sankranthi festival period, traditionally one of the most lucrative windows for Telugu cinema. With Neel’s track record of creating cinematic universes and NTR’s box office dominance, expectations are sky-high for this collaboration.
3. Devara: Part 2 (2026): Continuing the Coastal Saga
Following his film with Prashanth Neel, Jr NTR will return to the world of his epic action-drama in Devara 2. The first installment, directed by Koratala Siva, established a massive story in a coastal setting featuring intense action and compelling family drama.
At a recent event, Jr NTR officially announced that Devara 2 is very much in the works, stating “There are voices suggesting that Devara 2 isn’t happening. All I want to tell them is that Devara 2 will certainly happen”. This confirmation came after rumors suggested the sequel might be shelved.
The sequel promises to resolve cliffhangers from the first film while expanding the coastal universe Koratala Siva created. Janhvi Kapoor returns as Thangam, while the nature of Saif Ali Khan’s involvement remains mysterious given his character’s fate in Part 1—fueling speculation about flashbacks or surprise resurrections.
Devara: Part 1 became one of 2024’s biggest commercial successes despite mixed reviews, earning over ₹400 crore worldwide. The sequel carries the pressure of delivering both commercial success and critical acclaim by addressing the first film’s narrative weaknesses while maintaining its spectacular action sequences.
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4. Nelson Dilipkumar Project (2027 Tentative): Dark Comedy Experiment
Jr NTR has announced plans to collaborate with director Nelson Dilipkumar, known for dark comedies like Doctor and Jailer. This marks potentially NTR’s return to full-fledged comedy after Adhurs, as Nelson specializes in blending irreverent humor with stylized violence.
However, the movie has no chances of going on floors next year as Nelson has confirmed his next movie is Jailer 2 with Superstar Rajinikanth, which will keep him occupied through the end of next year. After completing Jailer 2, Nelson would potentially begin pre-production on the NTR project.
The collaboration excites fans because NTR’s comic timing and mass appeal combined with Nelson’s quirky storytelling could create something uniquely entertaining. Nelson’s ability to extract career-best performances from actors (as seen with Sivakarthikeyan in Doctor and Rajinikanth in Jailer) suggests NTR might showcase dimensions of his talent rarely explored in recent years.
The tentative 2027 timeline means this project remains in early planning stages, with casting, plot details, and production house yet to be announced.
The Strategic Career Planning Behind NTR’s Choices
Sources confirmed that Jr NTR’s upcoming slate remains exactly as planned before War 2, with his next two films—Prashanth Neel’s Dragon followed by Devara 2—already locked in long ago. This demonstrates NTR’s careful career management, balancing commercial mass entertainers with prestigious collaborations.
His strategy appears to be:
- Pan-India appeal: Alternating between Telugu films (Devara franchise) and Hindi cinema (War 2)
- Director diversity: Working with established commercial directors (Koratala Siva) and auteurs (Prashanth Neel)
- Genre variety: Spy thrillers, underworld dramas, coastal action sagas, and potential comedy
- Festival releases: Targeting major holidays (Sankranthi for Dragon) for maximum box office impact
This calculated approach positions NTR as one of Indian cinema’s most bankable stars across multiple industries and languages.
What Makes Jr NTR’s Lineup Special?
Unlike many stars who commit to safe commercial formulas, NTR’s upcoming projects show remarkable diversity. War 2 established his Bollywood credentials in mainstream action. Dragon promises raw, gritty cinema from Prashanth Neel’s vision. Devara 2 continues his Telugu mass entertainment legacy. The Nelson project offers comedic exploration.
Each film targets different audience segments while maintaining NTR’s core strengths—intense performances, powerful screen presence, and exceptional dancing skills. This variety ensures he doesn’t get typecast while keeping his massive fanbase engaged across demographics.
The post-RRR phase has seen NTR transition from regional superstar to pan-India phenomenon. His careful project selection aims to consolidate that national and international recognition while serving Telugu audiences who’ve supported him for two decades.
Box Office Expectations and Industry Impact
War 2’s success set high benchmarks for NTR’s future releases. Dragon carries enormous expectations given Prashanth Neel’s KGF franchise grossed over ₹1,200 crore combined, while Salaar earned approximately ₹600 crore. If Dragon delivers similar numbers, it could become NTR’s highest-grossing film, surpassing even RRR’s ₹1,200 crore worldwide collection.
Devara 2 needs to improve upon the first installment’s mixed critical reception while maintaining its commercial success. The sequel has the advantage of established characters and mythology, potentially leading to better narrative coherence.
The Nelson project, whenever it materializes, would likely target the ₹200-300 crore range typical of his films, focusing on theatrical entertainment rather than record-breaking collections.
FAQs
Q: Why is there such a long gap between Jr NTR’s films compared to other Telugu stars?
Jr NTR’s recent project gaps stem from his commitment to high-quality, large-scale productions requiring extensive preparation and filming schedules. War 2’s production spanned multiple schedules across international locations, while maintaining a specific look for continuity delayed his transition to Dragon. Additionally, NTR had to maintain his War 2 appearance before transforming for Prashanth Neel’s film, creating scheduling constraints. Unlike stars churning out multiple films annually, NTR prioritizes projects with pan-India potential and A-list directors, which naturally require longer production cycles. The RRR effect also elevated his market value, allowing him to be selective and command premium budgets that take time to assemble and execute properly.
Q: Will Jr NTR ever do a solo film with Yash Raj Films after War 2’s success?
While reports suggested a multi-film deal with YRF potentially including a solo spy movie, recent updates clarified that reports suggesting a delay in a potential YRF solo film are incorrect, as the actor’s next two films were already locked in before War 2. This doesn’t rule out future YRF collaborations—the studio’s Spy Universe continues expanding, and NTR’s character in War 2 could warrant a standalone film. However, his immediate schedule (Dragon in early 2026, Devara 2 later in 2026, potential Nelson project in 2027) leaves little room for additional commitments until 2027-2028. If a YRF solo film happens, it would likely be announced after Dragon’s release, giving both parties clarity on audience reception and franchise potential.
