Jr NTR’s Dragon Becomes India’s Most-Viewed Movie Glimpse in 24 Hours Amid Trolls

Jr NTR and director Prashanth Neel’s highly anticipated action epic Dragon has exploded across the internet, with its first glimpse officially becoming India’s most-viewed movie glimpse within 24 hours of release. According to the makers, the teaser amassed more than 64 million views across all language versions in a single day, turning the film into the biggest talking point on Indian social media.

The Telugu version alone crossed nearly 49 million views , while the Hindi, Tamil, Kannada and Malayalam versions together contributed more than 15 million views, highlighting the film’s massive pan-Indian appeal. The glimpse release also coincided with Jr NTR’s 43rd birthday, pushing hashtags like #DragonGlimpse and #HappyBirthdayNTR to the top of social media trends.

Set in 1967, the nearly five-minute glimpse introduces Jr NTR as “Luger” , a ruthless and mysterious figure tied to the Afghan Trading Company . The teaser teases a brutal world involving the opium trade, international smuggling networks and conflicts linked to the Golden Triangle . Director Prashanth Neel called Dragon the “darkest character” he has ever written and revealed that he spent nearly three years shaping the role and understanding the character’s motivations.

One of the biggest discussion points online was Jr NTR’s dramatic physical transformation . Reports revealed the actor lost nearly 15 kilograms in four months for the role. Neel even stated that Jr NTR looked “frail and pale” during the process, worrying his family members.

However, the glimpse also triggered heavy trolling and meme storms online. While fans praised the gritty visuals, large-scale action and Ravi Basrur’s thunderous background score , critics mocked Jr NTR’s lean appearance and compared the film’s dark visual style to Neel’s earlier blockbusters KGF and Salaar. Social media was flooded with memes claiming Dragon looked like a “KGF-Salaar crossover,” while others joked about Jr NTR’s rugged makeover.

Despite the online debates, fan excitement remains sky-high. Produced by Mythri Movie Makers and NTR Arts, Dragon stars Anil Kapoor, Rukmini Vasanth, Biju Menon, Khushbu Sundar and Ashutosh Rana in key roles. The film is slated for a worldwide theatrical release on June 11, 2027.