Jr NTR underwent surgery in July after sustaining an AC joint tendon injury in his right shoulder. The injury reportedly occurred during preparations for intense action sequences and filming activities for his upcoming film, Dragon. After a break of nearly three months, the actor has recovered and resumed shooting for the Prashanth Neel directorial.

Jr NTR returned to the sets on Thursday and joined the film’s latest schedule, which is currently underway at Ramoji Film City. The development will come as a relief to fans who have been eagerly awaiting his return to the big screen.

A Race Against Time

After a period of recovery and physiotherapy, Jr NTR has resumed work on Dragon. Although the actor was away from the sets following his injury in July, the film’s production reportedly continued during his absence, with the team shooting portions featuring the supporting cast, including Anil Kapoor.

With Jr NTR now back, the team is expected to accelerate filming and make up for lost time. The makers are reportedly aiming to wrap up the remaining portions by early 2027, ahead of the film’s scheduled pan-India theatrical release on June 11, 2027. With the release date approaching, completing the shoot and post-production within the planned timeline remains a key challenge.

Dragon Revolves Around an International Opium Syndicate

Jr NTR plays Luger, an intense and ruthless character in a story set against the backdrop of an international opium syndicate in 1967. The film is expected to deliver a dark, gritty action drama on a grand scale.

Contrary to some expectations, director Prashanth Neel has reportedly described Dragon as one of his most patriotic films, combining its larger themes with his trademark high-octane action and expansive world-building.

The film marks the first collaboration between Jr NTR, whose international profile grew following RRR and Neel, known for the KGF franchise and Salaar. Expectations are consequently high for the project.

Dragon also stars Rukmini Vasanth as the female lead, alongside Anil Kapoor and Biju Menon.

Also Read: “Won’t Spare You” – Jr NTR Calls Out AI Video of Chuttamalle, Warns Culprits

Jonathon Bailey and Natalie Portman are reportedly all set to feature in their first-ever project together, Pumping Black. The film will begin its production in October 2026.

The psychological thriller will feature Jonathon Bailey playing the role of a 35-year-old competitive cyclist, Taylor Mace, who is closing in towards the end of his career. Natalie Portman, on the other hand, will play the crucial role of an ambitious doctor, her own ambition for victory and power fuelling her pursuit of guiding him. Taylor will now have to resort to taking dark measures to secure his secret and stick to his lead.

The star-studded lineup further extends with other talented cast members starring in Pumping Black, including Lukas Gage, Alex Akpobome, Daniel Quinn Toye, Lucas Lynggaard Tonnesen, Arieh Worthalter, and Tony Hale.

Pumping Black is being made under the direction of Mimi Cave, who is best known for directing Fresh (2022), Holland (2025), and the TV series Poker Face (2025), amongst many others. This film will also be the grand entry for Haley Hope Bartel into Hollywood as she makes her official feature film screenwriting debut.

Jonathon Bailey is best known for his role in Jurassic World: Rebirth, starring alongside The Avengers: Endgame actor Scarlett Johansson. Natalie Portman is an Academy Award winner for her performance in Black Swan, rightfully earning her the Oscar award for Best Actress. Apart from Pumping Black, her classic thriller V for Vendetta will also be re-releasing this year, in early November for its 20th anniversary.

The filming for Pumping Black is set to wrap up by the end of this December. At the time of writing, no official release date has been announced. Keep following this page to learn more.

Also Read: Natalie Portman Welcomes Baby With Partner Tanguy Destable

Gondhal made history this year for its historic selection as the official Indian entry by the Film Federation of India (FFI) at the 99th Academy Awards on September 18, 2026. For the Oscars 2027, Gondhal will be one of the nominations for the Best International Feature Film category.

Under the direction of Santosh Davakhar, co-founder of Davakhar Films, the film is set in the rural areas of Maharashtra, diving deep into a dark and suspenseful tale of betrayals and obsessions.

Davakhar expresses his excitement, explaining the original goals behind making Gondhal. He said, “When we set out to make ‘Gondhal,’ our only goal was to stay fiercely true to the raw culture, haunting rhythms, and untold layers of our soil.”

On seeing the regional story of Gondhal journeying to meet a nationwide audience as well as being a participant in the Oscar race, he further said, “To see this deeply rooted folk thriller resonate so profoundly that it becomes India’s official Oscar entry is an overwhelming honour. Now, bringing it to audiences across the country on November 13 in a Pan-India release feels like bringing the story back full circle.”

He mentions just how much gratitude he has for all the love the film has received from the viewers. Davakhar continued, “Cinema has no language barriers when the emotion is raw and honest, and I am filled with immense gratitude that viewers from every corner of India will get to experience this sacred, suspenseful journey on the big screen together.”

Gondhal follows the tale of Suman , a young woman who is entangled within a suffocating marriage and seeking out. What follows is a desperate act of exploiting her lover’s obsessive faith in the sacred traditional Gondhal ritual, eventually leading to a web of secret betrayals and severe consequences.

Gondhal is all set and geared up for its Pan-India theatrical release on November 13, 2026.

Also Read: Marathi Film Gondhal Chosen As India’s Official Entry For 99th Academy Awards