The filming of Jr NTR’s collaboration with director Prashanth Neel, rumouredly titled Dragon, recently faced an unexpected hurdle. While the unit had been canning crucial action sequences in the semi-arid terrains of Jordan in February, the schedule was abruptly truncated during the final week of the month.
The decision was driven by the escalating West Asia crisis. Tensions in the region have intensified following a series of military strikes involving Israel, the United States, and Iran. With Amman’s airspace flagged in high-risk advisories and regional travel hubs witnessing disruptions, the production team sensed a growing risk of being stranded. Jordan’s geographical location, sharing borders with Syria, Iraq, Israel, Saudi Arabia and Palestine, further heightened concerns. To prioritise the safety of the extensive cast and crew, the makers opted to wrap up the remaining portions ahead of schedule and return to Hyderabad.
The Aadujeevitham parallel
Industry insiders note that the team’s swift action likely averted a larger crisis. In 2020, the crew of Aadujeevitham was stranded in Jordan during the pandemic lockdown. The team remained stuck for nearly 70 days between March and May 2020 due to COVID-19 restrictions before being repatriated to India under the Indian government’s Vande Bharat Mission.
About Dragon
Dragon co-stars Rukmini Vasanth, who is also associated with Kantara 2. Jr NTR has reportedly undergone a striking physical transformation for the role, attaining a leaner and more agile physique to perform high-risk stunts. Jr. NTR will have major and intense fight sequences. The film features high-octane, Hollywood-style action sequences filmed in international locations like Jordan and Africa emphasizing a global scale. Dragon also features Malayalam actors Tovino Thomas and Biju Menon. This marks the first collaboration between Prashanth Neel and Jr NTR, heightening expectations around the project. The film’s official release date is expected to be announced later this year.
Also Read: Jr NTR Jets Off to Jordan As Dragon Enters Crucial Phase
