1 week ago
Yash’s Toxic Faces Delays, Controversies Before August Release
Toxic is a new film starring Yash that has faced several problems before reaching cinemas.
Its teaser and songs showed romantic and intimate scenes that some people criticized.
Some critics said the film did not treat its women characters fairly.
Yash and others involved with the film said viewers should watch the whole movie before judging it.
A Christian organization also objected to some religious imagery.
The production faced a case over alleged tree cutting, but the producer said the filming had proper permissions.
The film’s release date was postponed more than once.
At a promotional event, four people were hurt when a sound-box structure collapsed.
The makers now plan to release the film on August 26.
Toxic faced criticism over intimate teaser and trailer scenes, including Yash’s bare-body appearance and its portrayal of women.
The Aam Aadmi Party Women’s Wing complained to the Karnataka State Women’s Commission about the teaser, while the CBFC said online promotional content was outside its jurisdiction.
The National Christian Federation sought removal of scenes it said used Saint Michael in an offensive manner.
A case was registered over alleged illegal tree cutting during filming, though the producer said the shoot occurred on private land with permissions.
After multiple postponements, Toxic’s makers announced August 26 as the new release date; four people were also injured when a sound-box stand collapsed at a promotional event.
- Who
- Yash, Kiara Advani, director Geetu Mohandas, the film’s producers, critics, and several organizations including the Aam Aadmi Party Women’s Wing and National Christian Federation.
- What
- Toxic: A Fairy Tale for Grown-Ups faced criticism, legal or official complaints, filming-related controversy, release delays, and an accident at a pre-release event.
- Where
- The issues involved online platforms, Bengaluru, Karnataka, and a pre-release event at Malla Reddy University in Medchal.
- When
- The controversies occurred during production and promotion; the article says the film is scheduled for release on August 26, after earlier dates of March 19 and June 4.
- Why
- The disputes concerned intimate and allegedly vulgar imagery, women’s portrayal, religious imagery, alleged tree cutting, and repeated changes to the release schedule.
Critics and Objectors
Filmmakers and Defenders
Women’s portrayal and intimate scenes
Critics and Objectors
Critics questioned the film’s treatment of women and objected to intimate scenes involving Yash and Kiara Advani. Some social media users criticized Kiara more heavily than Yash, which Benedict Garrett and Huma Qureshi described as a double standard.
Filmmakers and Defenders
Yash said the film contains a voice for women and urged audiences not to judge female characters solely from promotional material. He also said the intimate scenes were shot aesthetically and were not vulgar.
Teaser content
Critics and Objectors
The Aam Aadmi Party Women’s Wing called a car scene near a cemetery obscene and explicit, saying it could harm women, children, and Kannada cultural values.
Filmmakers and Defenders
The CBFC said the teaser was released only on YouTube and therefore did not fall under its jurisdiction, because its certification requirement applies to films and trailers intended for theatrical exhibition.
Religious imagery
Critics and Objectors
The National Christian Federation alleged that some visuals showed Saint Michael in an offensive manner and requested intervention and removal of the disputed scenes.
Filmmakers and Defenders
The article reports no formal apology or direct response from Yash or the producers addressing the federation’s concerns.
Filming and environmental concerns
Critics and Objectors
A case was registered against the producer and two others over alleged illegal tree cutting during filming in a forested area in Bengaluru.
Filmmakers and Defenders
The producer maintained that filming took place on private land and that all necessary permissions had been obtained.
Key facts
- New release date
- August 26
- Earlier release dates
- March 19, followed by June 4
- Director
- Geetu Mohandas
- Production companies
- KVN Productions and Monster Mind Creations
- Languages
- Shot in Kannada and English, with dubbed Hindi, Telugu, Tamil, and Malayalam versions
- Event injuries
- Four people were injured after a sound-box stand collapsed at Malla Reddy University
- Main cast mentioned
- Yash, Nayanthara, Huma Qureshi, Tara Sutaria, Rukmini Vasanth, and Kiara Advani
Quotes
Huma Qureshi
Actor who commented on reactions to Toxic’s intimate scenes
“That's the most exciting part. So what happens is that when you generally say action films, it's only restricted to male directors. That's been historically true in India. A lot of people have done that. A large-scale action film, that too a gangster film with a female gaze, is something which is very new and refreshing.”
NDTV
“It's sick. It's disgusting, absolutely. But I think women in this film, the actresses and the directors, will have the last laugh. There's no point in trying to defend something at all because you can't change people's mindset with words. I would just let the film do the talking.”
NDTV











