Toxic: A Fairy Tale for Grown-Ups is an upcoming Indianperiodgangster film written and directed byGeetu Mohandas[2] the film starsYash andNayanthara, alongsideKiara Advani,Tara Sutaria,Huma Qureshi andAkshay Oberoi. It is jointly produced by Venkat K. Narayana and Yash under theirKVN Productions and Monster Mind Creations production companies.
| Toxic: A Fairy Tale for Grown-Ups | |
|---|---|
 Theatrical release poster | |
| Directed by | Geetu Mohandas |
| Written by | Geetu Mohandas Yash |
| Produced by | Venkat K. Narayana Yash |
| Starring | |
| Cinematography | Rajeev Ravi |
| Edited by | B. Ajithkumar |
Production companies | KVN Productions Monster Mind Creations |
Release date |
|
| Country | India |
| Languages | Kannada English |
| Budget | ₹300 crore[1] |
The film was officially announced in December 2023 under the tentative titleYash 19, as it is the 19th film of Yash as the leading actor, and the official title was announced a few days later. The film is simultaneously shot inKannada andEnglish and will be released in six languages.Principal photography commenced the following August inBengaluru. The cinematography was handled byRajeev Ravi and the music for the title announcement was composed by Jeremy Stack.
Toxic is scheduled to be released on 19 March 2026, coinciding withUgadi.
Cast
editProduction
editDevelopment
editIn April 2018, it was reported thatYash was to join hands with directorGeetu Mohandas for his next starrer after theKGF film franchise (2018–present).Tentatively titledYash 19, production was reported to begin after Geetu finalised it as her next directorial.[4] In April 2023, sources claimed that Yash and Geetu signed the venture, and the production would start that June.[5] In late September,Hollywood action choreographerJ. J. Perry posted a photo onInstagram with himself and Yash, hinting a possible collaboration for the venture. Soon after, Yash reportedly spent a day at music composerCharan Raj's studio, which also hinted a possible collaboration.[6] On 9 December,KVN Productions and Yash's production house Monster Mind Creations announced the collaboration with the former and Geetu.[7] In January 2024, music composer Jeremy Stack and cinematographerRajeev Ravi were announced as a part of the technical crew.[8] On 8 January 2025, Geetu stated that Yash was also part of the writing team.[9]
Filming
editPrincipal photography commenced in June 2024 inBangalore and gradually, a major chunk started on 8 August 2024 at a large-scale 20-acre set near Bengaluru, replicating the era from the 1940s to the 1970s. The production involves an extensive team of over 1,000 crew members and 450 actors, including foreign extras.[10] As part of the production, the film utilizedprevisualization to plan out the stunts to ensure safety. Shooting then took place inThoothukudi where an action scene was shot. A song sequence took place inJaipur.[8]
Marketing
editThe film was announced on December 8, 2023, on KVN Productions' YouTube channel.[11] The first poster of the film was unveiled on 7 January, and a first-look teaser was released the following day, on Yash's birthday.[12]Collider's Rahul Malhotra reacted favorably to the teaser, noting that "Nothing about theToxic teaser recalls Mohandas' previous film; instead, it evokes the chaotic energy of the elaborate opening sequence ofDamien Chazelle'sBabylon, combined with the maximalism ofBaz Luhrmann'sThe Great Gatsby."[13] In March 2025, the film's new release date was announced with a poster.[14]
Release
editToxic is scheduled to be released worldwide on 19 March 2026, coinciding with Ugadi in multiple languages, includingKannada,English,Hindi,Telugu,Tamil,Malayalam, and other international languages[15][16] The film was initially scheduled to release theatrically on 10 April 2025.[17][18] However, the release was postponed due to multiple production delays.[19][20]
References
edit- ^"Yash's Toxic release plans: Pan-India tour to grand trailer event, all we know".India Today. 9 January 2025.Archived from the original on 9 January 2025. Retrieved9 January 2025.
- ^Ramachandran, Naman (23 February 2025)."Yash's 'Toxic' Unveils Global Ambitions, Shooting Simultaneously in English and Kannada Languages".Variety.Archived from the original on 24 February 2025. Retrieved24 February 2025.
- ^"American actor Kyle Paul on Yash's 'Toxic': I had the best experience on sets".The Hindu. 19 March 2025.ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved22 March 2025.
- ^"Yash 19 to be navy-based action thriller?".The Times of India. 18 April 2023.Archived from the original on 14 May 2023. Retrieved9 January 2024.
- ^"South Buzz: Rajinikanth completes shooting for 'Jailer'; Yash to start shooting for his next; Saif Ali Khan begins shooting for 'NTR 30'".The Times of India. 19 April 2023.Archived from the original on 7 May 2023. Retrieved9 January 2024.
- ^"Yash's next film to include international talent?".The Times of India. 28 September 2023.Archived from the original on 6 October 2023. Retrieved9 January 2024.
- ^"Yash announces release of next film, 3 years after KGF franchise".The Times of India. 9 December 2023.Archived from the original on 16 December 2023. Retrieved9 January 2024.
- ^ab"Yash and team usher in Stuntvis Technology for 'Toxic'".The New Indian Express. 8 January 2024.Archived from the original on 10 January 2024. Retrieved9 January 2024.
- ^Sharadhaa, A. (8 January 2025)."Geetu Mohandas: Co-writing Toxic with Yash has been a privilege and a thrill".Cinema Express. Retrieved8 January 2025.
- ^"Yash's upcoming film Toxic brings the 1940s-70s to life with 1,000 crew and a 20-acre set".Moneycontrol.Archived from the original on 4 September 2024. Retrieved8 January 2025.
- ^"The 'Toxic' Journey Begins: Rocking Star Yash".Times Now. 8 August 2024. Retrieved8 January 2025.
- ^Ramachandran, Naman (8 January 2025)."Yash Unveils First-Look Video of 'Toxic' (EXCLUSIVE)".Variety. Retrieved8 January 2025.
- ^Malhotra, Rahul (8 January 2025)."'Toxic' Teaser Reveals Raunchy First Look at India's Next Big Tent Pole".Collider. Retrieved13 January 2025.
- ^"Yash FINALLY Announces Toxic Release Date; Burns Down A Town In New Poster".News18. Retrieved22 March 2025.
- ^"'KGF' star Yash gives the biggest update on 'Toxic': Release date out".The Hindu. 22 March 2025.Archived from the original on 28 April 2025. Retrieved22 March 2025.
- ^"EXCLUSIVE: Yash in talks with 20th Century Fox for International Distribution of Toxic".PINKVILLA. 31 December 2024.Archived from the original on 6 January 2025. Retrieved8 January 2025.
- ^Chakraborty, Urmi (8 August 2024)."Yash begins shooting for Toxic, drops photo from pooja ceremony".The Telegraph Online.
- ^Shackleton, Liz (12 December 2023)."'K.G.F.' Star Yash Teams With Award-Winning Director Geetu Mohandas On 'Toxic – A Fairy Tale For Grown-ups'".Deadline.Archived from the original on 1 January 2024. Retrieved13 January 2025.
- ^"Is Yash starrer Toxic with director Geetu Mohandas shelved? Here's the TRUTH".PINKVILLA. 5 October 2024.Archived from the original on 14 January 2025. Retrieved14 January 2025.
- ^"Yash Confirms 'Toxic' Release Is Delayed: 'There Are So Many Complications...'".News18.Archived from the original on 14 January 2025. Retrieved14 January 2025.