Ever since the title glimpse of Dragon dropped on May 20, 2026, one question has been doing the rounds at warp speed — did Sidhant Gupta step in to replace Tovino Thomas as Jr NTR’s brother in director Prashanth Neel’s highly anticipated action spectacle?

The short answer? No. But here’s everything you actually need to know.

Dragon — Full Cast & Key Details

Detail	Info
Film	Dragon
Lead	Jr NTR as Luger
Director	Prashanth Neel
Release Date	June 11, 2027
Sidhant Gupta’s Role	Boby Sarkar — Wazir of Afghan Trading Company (ATC)
Relation to Luger	Sidhant plays Luger’s brother
Female Lead	Rukmini Vasanth
Supporting Cast	Anil Kapoor, Biju Menon and others
Producer	Mythri Movie Makers
Trilogy Status	Final film in Prashanth Neel’s noir action trilogy after KGF & Salaar

So What Actually Happened With Tovino Thomas?

Let’s clear the air. Reports emerged suggesting Sidhant Gupta had replaced Tovino Thomas after the Minnal Murali star’s name was linked to Dragon. However, Sidhant Gupta’s team has officially confirmed he is not stepping into any role originally intended for Tovino — he is playing an entirely separate character, Boby Sarkar, the Wazir of the Afghan Trading Company and Luger’s brother.

As for Tovino Thomas, he addressed the speculation directly in a recent media interaction, confirming he has no association with the film. The reason? The role would have required an extensive number of shooting days, which would have forced him to postpone or drop several committed Malayalam projects. A purely practical decision — no drama, no fallout.

Who Is Sidhant Gupta in Dragon?

Best known for his acclaimed performance in the OTT series Freedom at Midnight, Sidhant Gupta’s casting in Dragon marks his debut in South Indian cinema in a big way. Playing Boby Sarkar — the powerful Wazir of the Afghan Trading Company and brother to Jr NTR’s character Luger — it’s a significant, high-profile entry into this universe.

What Makes Dragon Special

Prashanth Neel has confirmed that Dragon is the closing chapter of his hyper-stylised noir mass-action trilogy — the same cinematic world that brought audiences KGF and Salaar. However, he has also clarified it’s a standalone film with no crossover connections to either of those franchises.

Adding to the intrigue, Jr NTR lost 15 kilos in four months to transform into the gaunt, haunting look of Luger — a physical commitment that shocked even the director.

For more Dragon updates, South cinema news, and Prashanth Neel’s latest, head to TechnoSports and explore our complete South Indian cinema coverage.

FAQs

Q. Why did Tovino Thomas leave Jr NTR’s Dragon?

Tovino Thomas confirmed he exited Dragon due to scheduling conflicts — the film required too many shooting days, which would have clashed with his existing Malayalam project commitments.

Q. What role does Sidhant Gupta play in Dragon?

Sidhant Gupta plays Boby Sarkar, the Wazir of the Afghan Trading Company (ATC) and the brother of Jr NTR’s character Luger — a completely original role, not a replacement for any previously cast actor.