'Toxic': Yash refuses to 'give up' in stylish, gory teaser
What's the story
The much-anticipated first teaser of Toxic: A Fairy Tale for Grown-Ups, starring Kannada superstar Yash, has been released. The film marks his return to the big screen after four years since KGF: Chapter 2. In the 1:55-minute clip, many people advise Yash's character to "give up," but Raya refuses in style. Directed by Geetu Mohandas, it is set in Goa from the 1940s to the 1970s and promises a "savage action-thriller saga." The film will release on March 19, 2026.
Plot details
Teaser shows Yash's character building an empire through blood, fear
The teaser hints at a world shaped by fading colonial influence and emerging crime syndicates. Raya seems to be building an empire through violence, fear, and betrayal. Amid stylish cut shots of the actor, we also see a "son" return for revenge. The film's synopsis on its UAE distributor Phars Film's website reads: "Set in Goa between the early 1940s and the 1970s, Toxic is a savage action-thriller saga that plunges into the rot festering beneath paradise."
Cast and crew
More about film and its cast ensemble
The film also stars Kiara Advani, Nayanthara, Huma Qureshi, Tara Sutaria, and Rukmini Vasanth. It is produced by Venkat K Narayana and Yash under their respective banners KVN Productions and Monster Mind Creations. Toxic was shot simultaneously in Kannada and English, but will be released in other South Indian languages as well as Hindi.
Controversy
Film has been mired in controversies
The film has been in the news for its controversial content. A glimpse released on Yash's birthday was criticized for showing an explicit sex scene, leading to a complaint by the Women's wing of the Aam Aadmi Party to the Karnataka State Commission for Women. In February, a formal complaint was lodged with the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) by the National Christian Federation, alleging that it hurt religious sentiments.