‘Aditya Chopra had to intervene’ on War 2 when Jr NTR and Ayan Mukerji’s approach to acting clashed

Jr NTR said his disdain for prepping comes from the working style of South Indian films, which rely more on last minute changes and a more instinctive way of making movies.

He explained, “Too much of prep doesn’t give you the chance to explore yourself. South Indian films (sets) have always been chaotically organised. Like, if the prints have to go tomorrow, the team will still ask for one extra hour because they want to make some changes in the edit. The clock is ticking, the prints have to be delivered, but you’re still working on the film.

“You are shooting for a crazy sequence tomorrow, but everybody is so chill, we are not prepping at all. We know what needs to be done. I think it is the chaos which brings a great amount of organisation and somewhere that makes us more instinctive as artistes.”

Jr NTR said it depends on directors if they are willing to accept when their actors deliver something “beyond than what was written”. Citing the example of War 2, which pits him against Hrithik Roshan, the actor said, “This was the experience I had with Hindi cinema also.  When I was shooting for War 2, Ayan did not know what’s going to come. Because he was trying to bring it out from me, that how is this going to come out.

“I told him, ‘Ayan I am very instinctive, kuch na kuch aa jayega (something will come).’ Now, he is not used to do this at all, he loves prep and I am completely the opposite. And then Adi sir was there in between, who said, ‘It’s ok, it’s ok, I get it.'”

Devara is scheduled to release in cinemas on September 27, while Jigra will open theatrically on October 11. After Devara, Jr NTR will be seen in War 2, which is gearing to release in August 2025. The film, also starring Kiara Advani, is a part of Yash Raj Film’s spy universe, which has Salman Khan’s Tiger franchise and Shah Rukh Khan-led Pathaan.