Who is Yash’s 'Toxic' director, an Oscar-nominated filmmaker and her national award-winning partner behind ‘Gangs of Wasseypur’?

Yash’s Toxic: A Fairy Tale for Grown-ups marks the superstar's massive return, blending his "mass" appeal with Geetu Mohandas’s gritty indie vision. Co-produced by Yash, under his own banner Monster Mind Creations, this period gangster saga recently unveiled its first glimpse, "The Tease," introducing him as the ruthless character Raya.

Rocking Star" Yash's next commander-in-chief isn’t your typical big-budget action director. Meet Geetu Mohandas, the visionary filmmaker who is currently the talk of the town as she mounts the pan-India spectacle Toxic: A Fairy Tale for Grown-ups. While the world knows her now as the director of Yash’s next gangster saga, her journey from a child artist to an Oscar-contending filmmaker is a masterclass in grit and artistic integrity.

The Debut that knocked on the Oscar's doors: ‘Liar’s Dice’

Geetu stormingly entered the directorial arena with her feature debut, Liar’s Dice (2013), which was not the typical commercial fare. Starring Nawazuddin Siddiqui and Geetanjali Thapa, this "quietly effective debut" (as described by Variety) followed a mother’s perilous journey from a remote Himalayan village to the belly of Delhi in search of her missing husband.


The film’s impact was so profound that it was selected by a 12-member jury from the Film Federation of India as India’s official entry for the 87th Academy Awards (Best Foreign Language Film category). It didn't just stop at global festivals like Sundance and Rotterdam; it dominated the domestic circuit too.

Double National Award for 'Liar’s Dice'

The brilliance of Liar’s Dice was officially sealed at the 61st National Film Awards, where it secured two of the most prestigious honors:

Best Actress: Awarded to Geetanjali Thapa for her hauntingly vulnerable performance.
Best Cinematography: Awarded to none other than Rajeev Ravi, Geetu’s husband and creative soulmate.

The Power Couple: Cinematography’s ‘Gangs of Wasseypur’ Hero

If Geetu is the vision, Rajeev Ravi is the lens. A veteran of the industry, Rajeev is the man who gave Anurag Kashyap’s Gangs of Wasseypur its gritty, legendary visual identity. His filmography is a list of modern Indian classics, including Dev.D, Chandni Bar, and Udta Punjab.

Together, they form a formidable creative duo. Rajeev captures "reality" in a way that aligns perfectly with Geetu's "out-of-the-box" storytelling. As Geetu noted in an interview with a media outlet, it was Rajeev who encouraged her to revisit her script for Liar's Dice after her short film Kelkkunnundo (Are You Listening) won international acclaim.

Why Yash Chose the "Indie" Queen for 'Toxic'

The industry was caught off-guard when Yash, fresh off the historic success of KGF, chose Geetu Mohandas for his next. But for those following her career, it makes sense. Her second feature, Moothon (produced by Aanand L. Rai), won the Global Filmmaking Award at Sundance and proved she could handle gritty, dark narratives with "international sensibilities."

With Toxic, Geetu is reportedly blending her raw, indie aesthetics with Yash’s "mass" appeal to create what he describes as a "fairy tale for grown-ups." Geetu Mohandas is no longer a "best-kept secret" of the festival circuit. With two National Awards and an Oscar entry under her belt, now she is entering the arena to bring a brand new Indian blockbuster under her belt too.

Yash's Toxic release date:

The film features an elite ensemble including Nayanthara, Kiara Advani, Huma Qureshi, and Tara Sutaria. Backed by Rajeev Ravi’s cinematography and Ravi Basrur’s music, Yash's ganngster saga 'Toxic' is scheduled for a grand worldwide release on March 19, 2026, coinciding with the Ugadi and Eid festivities.