Yash responds to criticism over Toxic’s adult content and bold scenes, emphasizing that the movie is a fairytale for grown-ups and not made for gimmicks.
Actor Yash is back in the spotlight, marking his big-screen return after four long years with Geetu Mohandas’ gangster drama Toxic. While fans were thrilled to see him back following KGF: Chapter 2, the movie sparked strong online debates as soon as promotional videos dropped. Many critics questioned the film over its romantic scenes, bold content, and how female characters were shown.
Recently, when Yash appeared on Rajat Sharma’s Aap Ki Adalat, the actor addressed these concerns. He explained that art should push viewers to think deeply and face tough questions. He noted that to tell an authentic story, every side of a character needs to be shown, even the parts that make people feel uneasy.
Responding to claims of vulgarity, the KGF star clarified that the scenes were shot artistically and added that he didn’t even kiss on screen. He emphasized that the film was created with Gen Z in mind, to explore young people’s questions about social rules and traditional expectations.
Further, Yash made it very clear that Toxic is strictly for a mature audience. He pointed to the movie’s main slogan, “A fairytale for grown-ups,” as a direct warning. He urged parents to keep children at home, making it plain that the film was not made for kids or anyone with a childish mindset. The actor reasoned that adults are fully capable of deciding what they want to watch and learn from the film.
When addressing complaints from the Karnataka State Women’s Commission and other critics regarding scenes in the teaser, Yash defended the director. He reminded everyone that Toxic is directed by a woman, Geetu Mohandas, who believes women have every right to portray female feelings and desires freely.
“The intent behind the scenes is clear, and it’s done to raise meaningful questions; not for gimmicks. At the same time, cinema is also about fun,” he said.
Yash also addressed his own past comments about feeling nervous around intimate scenes. He candidly shared that he has changed completely over time, stating that personal evolution is natural and that anyone who stays unchanged over two decades is lying.
On the show, Yash also directly answered the criticism surrounding the song ‘Tabaahi’, which sparked heavy debate for its intimate scenes with co-star Kiara Advani. He explained that people need to look beyond the real-life stars and see the characters, Raya and Nadia, who are deeply in love and do not care about the world around them.
The actor shared that the song had to be shot that way to fit their love story. He admitted that actors get nervous during these shots too, but urged viewers to judge the moments as a natural part of two characters’ journeys rather than just two celebrities.
Alongside Yash and Kiara Advani, Toxic boasts a powerhouse ensemble which includes Nayanthara, Huma Qureshi, Tara Sutaria, and Rukmini Vasanth. The film is slated to hit the theatrical screens on August 26.
