Cinema VinesKannada superstar Yash’s latest gangster‑drama, Toxic: A Fairytale For Grown Ups, hit theatres to a chorus of negative reviews, yet it has managed to win the admiration of several industry peers. Critics were quick to point out perceived flaws in the film’s narrative and pacing, but the work was praised by fellow actors Rishab Shetty and Kichcha Sudeepa, who publicly highlighted its strengths.
In a surprising turn, filmmaker Aditya Dhar—known for his work on Dhurandhar—took to Instagram on Tuesday to post a photo of Yash taken from Toxic. Accompanying the image he wrote simply, “Yash 💪❤️.” The brief tribute sparked a wave of online chatter, with many fans interpreting Dhar’s message as a subtle jab at director Ram Gopal Varma, who has been openly critical of Yash’s film since its release. Varma’s own tweet, “Watching Dhurandhar again and again,” was seen by some as a veiled critique of Yash, further fueling the debate.
Comments from viewers ranged from praise for Dhar’s cinematic insight to calls for a future collaboration between the two filmmakers. One fan wrote, “Aditya knows what it takes to make a movie at big scale,” while another added, “They both should collaborate some day.” Yet another urged, “Next movie with Yash please,” signalling a growing appetite for a joint venture.
The timing of Toxic’s release has also been a point of discussion. Originally slated for March 19, the film was postponed to avoid clashing with Dhar’s Dhurandhar The Revenge, which had already seen a successful first part in December. The postponement was attributed to tensions in the Middle East, and after a second delay the movie finally opened in August. Yash addressed speculation about the delay on the show Aap Ki Adalat, stating, “When my movie was supposed to release on March 19 (and postponed), I know a lot of people said about me ki main bhi darr gaya (I got scared). Zindagi me khone ka kuch hai hi nahi to darr hai hi nahi (I have nothing to lose in life, so I have no fear).”
Produced by Venkat K Narayana and Yash under KVN Productions and Monster Mind Creations LLP, and directed by Geetu Mohandas, Toxic features Yash in dual roles alongside Kiara Advani, Nayanthara, Huma Qureshi, Tara Sutaria and Rukmini Vasanth. Within its first week, the film has grossed ₹229 crore net domestically and ₹313 crore worldwide, a figure that suggests a mixed reception despite the critical backlash.
