The first glimpse of Dragon has already created massive buzz online. Released on May 20 as a birthday treat for Jr NTR’s fans, the teaser introduces him as Luger, a deadly assassin with an unexpectedly lean appearance that immediately became the biggest talking point on social media.

But the striking look seen in the teaser did not come easy. Director Prashanth Neel has now revealed that the actor underwent an intense physical transformation, shedding close to 15 kilos within just four months for the role.

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What Began As A Small Creative Input Became An Obsession

According to Neel, the drastic makeover wasn’t originally planned. During pre-production discussions and look tests conducted over a year ago, the filmmaker felt the character needed a different physicality altogether.

Recalling the moment, he shared, “I told him that if you became thinner for the role of the assassin, it would help.”

What followed surprised even the director himself. Jr NTR reportedly stopped taking up shoots and devoted himself completely to achieving the desired appearance. The actor underwent a rigorous routine involving controlled dieting and back-to-back training sessions.

Neel admitted the transformation soon became alarming.

“He didn’t shoot for the next four months, and he lost about 15 kgs at one point of time. I asked him to stop many times in between because he started looking frail and became paler but he didn’t stop,” said Neel.

Family Members Were Deeply Worried About The Actor’s Health!

The actor’s rapid weight loss soon became a concern for people around him. As his appearance changed dramatically, anxiety reportedly spread among family members, friends, and even the film’s crew.

Speaking about the reactions he faced, Neel revealed, “His wife was upset with me, his mother was upset with me, all his friends were upset with me. Everybody who knew him was upset with me. My whole team was upset with me, but I told them that was not my doing. I just told him to lose a little bit of weight, and he went berserk with it.”

Despite repeated requests to slow down, Jr NTR apparently remained fully committed to reaching the exact look envisioned for Luger.

The Actor’s Transformation Triggered Speculation Online

Months before the teaser launch, photos of a slimmer Jr NTR had already gone viral online, sparking speculation about how the actor achieved such a dramatic change in a short period. Several social media users linked the transformation to weight-loss drugs like Ozempic.

However, those rumours were dismissed by his trainer Kumar Mannava, who clarified that the actor’s transformation was completely natural. The trainer reportedly stated that Jr NTR relied on strict nutrition plans, disciplined workouts, and intense gym sessions to achieve the look.

He also revealed that the actor had lost nearly 9.5 kilos in just the first seven weeks.

Dragon Shoot Was Delayed For The Physical Makeover

Neel also explained that the film’s schedule had to be adjusted to accommodate the actor’s preparation. The transformation process reportedly began almost immediately after their initial discussion, with Jr NTR’s fitness coach preparing a detailed regimen within minutes.

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The actor started following the routine from the very next day, while the shoot was postponed for a few months to ensure he could complete the transformation properly.

Apart from Jr NTR, Dragon also stars Anil Kapoor, Ashutosh Rana, Rukmini Vasanth, and Biju Menon in pivotal roles. The film is currently slated to hit theatres in June 2027.