Jr NTR, one of South India’s most powerful screen presences, is all set to make his Bollywood debut in War 2. But despite his monumental rise from Yamadonga and Temper to the global phenomenon RRR it isn’t awards or acclaim that keep him driven. It’s a line from Kung Fu Panda.
In a recent interview with Esquire, Jr NTR confessed, “One of my favourite quotes is from Kung Fu Panda, where Oogway says: ‘Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, but today is a gift. That is why it is called the present.’” He added, “My present is my focus right now. I think an actor should always be ready for anything.”
This mantra of presence and spontaneity has clearly served him well. RRR not only earned Jr NTR worldwide recognition but also redefined Indian action cinema, becoming the fourth highest-grossing Indian film of all time. Now, with War 2, a trilingual action spectacle releasing on August 14, he joins the YRF Spy Universe alongside Hrithik Roshan and Kiara Advani.
The film has been cleared by the CBFC with minimal revisions and runs for 173 minutes, excluding the end-credit sequence which awaits a separate certification. Hrithik reprises his role as Major Kabir Dhaliwal, while Jr NTR’s role remains tightly under wraps. Kiara joins the franchise as Kavya Luthra, a character speculated to be linked to Ashutosh Rana’s Colonel Luthra.
With Dragon (tentatively titled NTR 31) also lined up for 2026 under KGF director Prashanth Neel, Jr NTR shows no signs of slowing down. But no matter how fast the pace gets, his focus remains right where Oogway said it should be in the present.
