Yash returns to screens with Toxic: A Fairytale for Grown-ups, and the film’s latest poster makes no attempt at subtlety. It places him as Raya at the centre of a blood-soaked blizzard, drinking from a bottle, face half-obscured, surrounded by the debris of violence. The teaser arrives on February 20 at 9:35 AM, ahead of the film’s worldwide theatrical release on March 19.
This is Yash’s first film since KGF Chapter 2 in 2022, and the creative choices around it signal a shift. He co-wrote the script with director Geetu Mohandas, whose previous films Liar’s Dice (India’s official Oscar entry in 2014) and Moothon operate in a very different register from commercial Kannada cinema. What that sensibility produces when applied to a big-canvas action vehicle remains the central question around Toxic.
The ensemble has been unveiled through a phased series of character reveals. Kiara Advani plays Nadia, Nayanthara appears as Ganga, Huma Qureshi takes on Elizabeth, Tara Sutaria is Rebecca, and Rukmini Vasanth plays Mellisa. The character names, a deliberate mix of cultural origins, hint at the kind of world being constructed. Yash’s own introduction came with a single line: “Daddy’s home.”
The technical team matches the scale. National Award-winning cinematographer Rajeev Ravi, whose credits span Gangs of Wasseypur through to a string of acclaimed Malayalam films, shoots the film. Ravi Basrur, who scored both KGF chapters, returns for the music. The action sequences were designed by JJ Perry of the John Wick franchise, alongside National Award winners Anbariv and Thai choreographer Kecha Khamphakdee. Ujwal Kulkarni edits, with production design by TP Abid.
Shot simultaneously in Kannada and English, with dubbed versions in Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, and more, Toxic is timed for release alongside Eid, Ugadi, and Gudi Padwa. The teaser will launch in a single language, a choice the makers frame as prioritising impact over breadth.
Toxic releases in theatres on March 19.