‘Yash is not a terrorist, he is the son of a bus driver’, says Toxic actor’s mother. She breaks silence over Allu Aravind’s old remark questioning his stardom

Yash's much-awaited film of the year, Toxic: A Fairy Tale for Grown-Ups, hit theatres on August 26 and has been in the headlines since its release. The movie is reportedly inching closer to the Rs 300 crore mark at the worldwide box office, even as its domestic collections have begun to slow. Amid the discussion around the film, Yash's mother has responded to Telugu producer Allu Aravind's 2023 comments questioning the actor's standing before KGF.

The remarks have resurfaced as Yash continues to establish himself as one of the biggest stars in Indian cinema. His rise to national fame came with the KGF franchise, but his mother has now stressed that his career had already gained momentum before the 2018 blockbuster.

Yash’s mother defends his career before KGF

Allu Aravind had made his comments while discussing the contribution of actors and producers to a film's success. At the time, the renowned Telugu producer questioned, "Who was Yash before KGF? How big a hero was he? Why did the film make noise? He was able to elevate the film only because of its making and grandeur. The rich scale made it a success. It is just one example."


Yash's mother has now pushed back against that assessment.

Breaking her silence over this, she said, as reported by NDTV, "Before KGF, Yash delivered five back-to-back hits. So, if he is an ordinary person, a nobody as you claim, then why are you (the person concerned) threatened? He's not a terrorist. There is no need to ask who he was before KGF; he had delivered good films before it. Moreover, he was not born into wealth, unlike a few others. He is the son of a bus driver who rose to the top on his own. As a mother, I am proud of him," Yash's mother said at a recent press meet.

Yash had earlier given his own take

Yash himself had previously addressed the same discussion during an appearance on the television show Aap Ki Adalat. When asked about the idea that a film's success depends heavily on its making rather than the star, the actor agreed that cinema is a collaborative medium.

However, he also explained why he believes actors continue to receive a large share of the attention. According to Yash, numerous people work behind a film, including writers, technicians and character actors, but the lead actor has a crucial responsibility when it comes to carrying the story and connecting with viewers.

Yash also acknowledged that actors often receive disproportionate love and recognition from audiences. He said he sometimes wondered why actors receive so much affection when so many others contribute to a film.

At the same time, he maintained that audiences understand the contribution of different members of a film's team and generally know who deserves respect. His comments reflected a more balanced view of the debate, recognising the importance of both the larger filmmaking team and the actor at the centre of the story.

The debate around Yash's pre-KGF career is particularly relevant because the franchise changed the scale of his popularity. KGF: Chapter 1 turned him into a pan-India star, while KGF: Chapter 2 further took his position at the box office.

About Yash's professional front

Yash is currently riding the response to Toxic, his first major theatrical release after the KGF films. Directed by Geetu Mohandas, the gangster drama features Yash in the lead role and has an ensemble cast that includes Nayanthara, Huma Qureshi, Kiara Advani, Tara Sutaria and Rukmini Vasanth.

The film, made in Kannada and English, has been released in dubbed versions in Hindi, Telugu, Tamil and Malayalam. While Toxic has generated significant interest, it has also received mixed reactions from critics and audiences.

After five days, the film reportedly earned around Rs 23 crore on its first Sunday, taking its India net collection to approximately Rs 214 crore. Its worldwide gross was reported at around Rs 285.25 crore, according to Sacnilk.com.

Despite the mixed response, Yash already has another major project lined up. He will play Ravana in Nitesh Tiwari's two-part adaptation of Ramayana. The ambitious project features Ranbir Kapoor as Lord Ram, Sai Pallavi as Sita and Sunny Deol as Hanuman.