# Tovino Thomas Drops Out of Jr NTR’s NTRNeel — Here’s the Real Reason Behind This Shocking Exit!

URL: https://technosports.co.in/tovino-thomas-drops-out-of-jr-ntrs/  
Published: 2026-04-01  
Updated: 2026-04-01  
Author: Reetam Bodhak

South Indian cinema fans were buzzing with excitement at the prospect of **Tovino Thomas** playing the antagonist opposite **Jr NTR** in the highly anticipated **NTRNeel (Dragon)**. But that dream collab has now officially been put to rest — and Tovino himself has explained exactly why.

## NTRNeel x Tovino Thomas — What We Know

| Detail | Info |
| --- | --- |
| 🎬 Film Title | NTRNeel (also referred to as Dragon) |
| 🦸 Lead Actor | Jr NTR |
| 🎥 Director | Prashanth Neel |
| 🦹 Rumoured Villain | Tovino Thomas (now confirmed NOT joining) |
| ❌ Reason for Exit | Scheduling conflicts |
| 👩 Co-lead (Expected) | Rukmini Vasanth |
| 🌍 Recent Shoot Location | Jordan (action sequences) |

## Tovino Himself Breaks the Silence

While promoting his upcoming film **Pallichattambi**, Tovino Thomas addressed the NTRNeel rumours directly during a Telugu media interaction. He was refreshingly straightforward about it: scheduling conflicts made it impossible for him to commit to the project. It’s a real shame — the idea of the *Minnal Murali* star stepping into a Prashanth Neel villain’s shoes alongside Jr NTR was genuinely thrilling for fans across industries.

The [Malayalam cinema](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Malayalam_cinema) industry is one of the most prolific in India, and Tovino is undeniably one of its busiest faces right now — which makes the date conflict entirely believable.

![Tovino Thomas](https://technosports.co.in/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/ovsvsnn-1024x576.webp)

## What’s Keeping Tovino So Busy?

Tovino’s packed dance card tells the whole story. He has back-to-back major releases lined up, leaving virtually no room for a big Telugu production commitment. Here’s a quick look at his upcoming work:

**Pallichattambi: The Origin** — A period action drama directed by Dijo Jose Antony, releasing **April 10, 2026**. The film also stars Kayadu Lohar and is expected to feature a cameo from Prithviraj Sukumaran.

**Athiradi** — Co-starring Vineeth Sreenivasan and Basil Joseph, this one hits theatres on **May 14, 2026**.

That’s two major Malayalam releases within just over a month — no wonder he simply couldn’t free up dates for NTRNeel.

## What About Jr NTR and the Film?

Jr NTR, fresh off his critically acclaimed performance in *War 2* alongside Hrithik Roshan, is deep into the NTRNeel shoot. The film is his first collaboration with director Prashanth Neel — the mastermind behind the KGF franchise — making it one of the most hyped pan-India projects in the pipeline. Stay updated on all the latest from the world of South Indian cinema at [TechnoSports](https://technosports.co.in), and don’t miss our full coverage of upcoming Telugu blockbusters at [TechnoSports](https://technosports.co.in).

## FAQs

### **Q: Why is Tovino Thomas not doing NTRNeel?**

 Tovino Thomas confirmed he is not part of the film due to **scheduling conflicts**, as allocating dates for the project became very difficult given his packed slate of Malayalam films.

### **Q: When is Tovino Thomas’s next film Pallichattambi releasing?**

**Pallichattambi: The Origin**, directed by Dijo Jose Antony and co-starring Kayadu Lohar and Prithviraj Sukumaran (in a cameo), is set to release on **April 10, 2026**.