Toxic trailer out: Yash’s brutal gangster drama packs action, betrayal and a mysterious father-son conflict. Internet left divided

The much-awaited trailer of Yash’s Toxic: A Fairy Tale for Grown-Ups is finally out, and it has given fans plenty to talk about. Released at a trailer launch event in Bengaluru on Saturday evening, the over-four-minute video presents a violent underworld, complicated relationships, betrayal and a mysterious conflict between a father and his son.

Directed by Geetu Mohandas, the film appears to take Yash into a darker space after his hugely successful KGF: Chapter 2. The trailer does not explain the complete story but gives enough glimpses to suggest that power, revenge and family tensions will be at the centre of the film.

Yash plays more than one character in Toxic

The trailer opens with a child apologising to his father and asking him not to hurt him. It then jumps between the past and present, eventually hinting that Yash plays both Raya and his son, Ticket, also referred to as Rumi.


The father-son relationship seems to be one of the main threads in the story. The trailer ends with the two characters involved in a physical confrontation, but it does not reveal what caused the conflict between them.

At the same time, Yash is shown as a dangerous gangster who moves through a world filled with crime bosses, violence and shifting loyalties. There are several bloody action sequences, while the actor also gets scenes showing the more charming and unpredictable side of his character.

Nayanthara, Kiara and others get more to do

The trailer also gives considerably more footage to the female characters than some of the earlier promotional videos.

Nayanthara plays Ganga, Kiara Advani is Nadia, Huma Qureshi appears as Elizabeth, Rukmini Vasanth plays Melissa and Tara Sutaria is seen as Rebecca. Their exact connection to Yash’s characters is still unclear, but the trailer suggests that each has a role in the larger conflict.

There are also romantic and intimate moments involving Yash, including a much-discussed half-naked sequence that has already become one of the biggest talking points online.

Toxic trailer gets mixed reactions online

The response to the trailer has been divided. While many fans praised Yash’s screen presence, action and the scale of the film, others felt that the trailer was confusing and too similar to some recent mass entertainers.

One user wrote, "Blockbuster Stuff.. #Toxicthemovie #Yash .. Sensational Response for the trailer openings Mamuluga undavu #Toxic"

Another said, "Dear Box Office, Your Dad is coming.. Terrific trailer of #TOXIC out now!"

A fan wrote, "Looks like this movie will break all the records. Yash is looking like a rockstar with beard and that hairstyle. Hopes are too high with the movie actually."

However, some viewers were less convinced. Comments compared the film to KGF, Animal and Kabir Singh, while one called it "KGF on Steroid." Another viewer wrote, "Nothing in this film seems original. Everything feels like a derivative of a derivative of a derivative."

Still, another fan praised the trailer and said, "The #Toxic trailer looks really fresh and brings a completely new vibe."

Toxic release date and other details

Toxic has faced multiple delays, but the makers have now confirmed August 26 as its worldwide theatrical release date. The film has been shot simultaneously in Kannada and English and will also be released in dubbed versions in Hindi, Tamil, Telugu and Malayalam.

Geetu Mohandas has directed the film and co-written the screenplay with Yash. It is backed by KVN Productions and Monster Mind Creations.