Tovino Thomas has confirmed he is no longer part of NTR‘s highly anticipated film Dragon, directed by Prashanth Neel. The Malayalam star voluntarily dropped out due to the film’s prolonged shoot schedule — a long-standing friction point between Mollywood and Tollywood working styles.
Why Tovino Thomas Left Dragon
In a statement on X, Tovino revealed he cannot commit to a single project for more than a year. He also took a pointed dig at Telugu film industry practices, noting that his one-film-at-a-time working style doesn’t align with how big-budget TFI productions typically operate.
Malayalam actors usually juggle four or five films in a single year, wrapping each project within a reasonable timeframe. Telugu productions, by contrast, can stretch beyond two years — often with no clear reason for the delay.
Dragon’s Shoot Faces Another Setback
Dragon has faced multiple shoot delays since going on floors. Despite this, the film continues to generate massive commercial interest — it recently closed a ₹55 Cr overseas deal for North America and UK rights, even before its first look release.
NTR and Prashanth Neel‘s collaboration remains one of the most-watched projects in Indian cinema. The exit of Tovino Thomas leaves a key supporting role open for recasting.