Hyderabad, April 7 - Days after Tovino Thomas confirmed that he is no longer a part of Jr. NTR-fronted Dragon due to continued delay in production, the shoot of the period action drama has been paused again for another reason. The movie has been in production since 2024.

Pause driven by dissatisfaction with look

According to the latest report by Gulte, Jr. NTR was not fully convinced with his appearance and certain portions already shot, prompting the team to halt production temporarily. The makers are now reworking the look to better match the character's intensity and overall vision of the film.

This isn't just a minor tweak, it's part of a larger effort to ensure the film delivers a strong visual impact, especially given the expectations from a Prashanth Neel directorial. The movie was to be shot on a major schedule this month, but the schedule is now pushed.

Multiple delays continue to affect the film

Earlier, the shoot schedules of Dragon were disrupted due to health issues and physical strain on Jr. NTR during intense shoots. Apart from this, there were also reportedly script changes and reshoots, with the team refining the narrative and action blocks. Some already-shot portions were also reportedly scrapped, further pushing timelines.

The multiple delays have also impacted the film's casting. Malayalam actor Tovino Thomas, who was on board to play a key role, apparently exited the film, citing that the shooting of the film was taking longer than he had thought. While it was indeed a big project for Tovino, the actor said that he had multiple other commitments to complete, and hence, he left the film.

Perfection over pace

While such pauses could impact timelines, they also signal a strong creative control and dedication behind the scenes. The makers are leaving no stone unturned to achieve perfection as much as possible and are not willing to rush without achieving it. If executed well, these decisions could ultimately enhance the film's overall impact.