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Rocking star Yash, who emerged from Kannada cinema and left an indelible mark across the world as ‘Rocky Bhai’, is in the news for his next ambitious film ‘Toxic: A Fairy Tale for Grown-ups’. After the historic success of ‘KGF Chapter 1’ and ‘KGF Chapter 2’, the audience is desperate to see Yash on the big screen once again. But this time Yash is not going to be seen as a traditional mass-action hero, but in a very dark, raw, and unfiltered character.
Recently, a new discussion broke out in the film industry and social media regarding the content, boldness and screenplay of the film. According to reports, ‘Toxic’ includes many intense, sensitive and intimate scenes, which are in sharp contrast to Yash’s previous family-oriented and traditional action images. Giving his candid opinion on this, Yash said in an interview that he has never promoted typical ‘kissing scenes’ or forced boldness on screen in his entire career, but the story of ‘Toxic’ and the understanding of today’s audience demands a completely different level. This statement of Yash has created a huge stir among cinema lovers and youth.
‘A Fairy Tale for Grown-ups’: The adult and dark genre of the film is hidden in the name itself
Ever since the announcement of the film ‘Toxic’, its tagline ‘A fairy tale for grown-ups’ was catching everyone’s attention. Yash and National Award-winning director Geetu Mohandas had already made it clear that the film is not being made like children’s or typical formula films. It is an ‘A-rated’ (adult) psychological action drama whose story revolves around crime, power, human greed, obsession and complicated love relationships.
Boldness has been woven into the narrative of the film not for any sensationalism, but as a natural demand of the story. Yash believes that when you are making a dark thriller film of international standard, emotions, anger and love cannot be shown superficially. To bring alive the bitterness, charm and cruelty of the story’s characters on screen, the director has presented the intimate aspects of human relationships in a very realistic manner.
Old Image vs Modern Cinema: Why did Yash change his on-screen no-kissing policy?
Many big superstars in Indian cinema are known for their ‘no-kissing’ or ‘no-intimacy’ policy. Yash too, from his early Kannada films till ‘KGF’, had always worked within the confines of mainstream family cinema. In such a situation, when he was asked whether there would be a change in his image in ‘Toxic’, Yash replied very maturely.
Yash clarified that cinema changes with time. The job of an actor is not to stick to any one mould. He said that in olden times, love was shown through the meeting of two flowers or through symbolic scenes, but today’s audience is connected to global cinema. If there is deep emotional or physical tension between two characters in a story, it would be dishonest to the art to artificially hide it. According to Yash, every bold or intense scene in ‘Toxic’ is connected to the soul of the script and when the audience sees it on the big screen, they will understand that it is not a part of glamor but the pain and passion of the story.
Drug Mafia and International Crime Thriller: What is the real world of ‘Toxic’?
According to reports coming in from the cinematic circles, the background of ‘Toxic’ is based on the dangerous drugs and smuggling syndicate that spread in Goa and international coastal areas between the 1950s and 1970s. In the film, Yash is playing the character of a man who is trapped in the deep mire of the world of crime, where the meaning of loyalty, love and betrayal changes every moment.
Director Geetu Mohandas, known for her realistic and art-house cinematic vision (‘Liar’s Dice’, ‘Moothon’), has injected international realism into this commercial action film too. The film will not only have dangerous action scenes, but will also expose the darkest layers of human relationships. It is natural for characters in such stories to be bold and immoral, and that is why Yash’s character will be seen on screen with all his raw energy without any filter.
Star-studded female cast and global scale: a mega-confluence from Bollywood to the South
‘Toxic’ has become one of the biggest films of the country not only because of its subject but also because of its huge star cast. There are reports of many veteran actresses of Indian cinema joining Yash in the film. According to reports, big names like Kiara Advani, Nayanthara, Huma Qureshi, Tara Sutaria and Shruti Haasan are going to be seen in different and very powerful characters in the film.
Female characters in films are not limited to mere show-pieces or dancing behind the hero. Geetu Mohandas has made every female character the pivot of the story, who have their own ambitions, secrets and strengths. The chemistry between the characters of these actresses along with Yash is going to be very intense, unexpected and bold, which will set a new benchmark, far away from the romance of traditional Indian films.
Thinking and cinematic maturity of today’s youth: Yash’s candid view
Yash highlighted in his recent statements that today’s young generation (Gen-Z and Millennials) looks at cinema from a new perspective. Today’s youth has grown up watching world-class series like ‘Peaky Blinders’, ‘Narcos’ and ‘Game of Thrones’ on Netflix, HBO and international OTT platforms. He knows the difference between art and reality.
Yash believes that the era of preaching to the Indian youth or hiding the reality from them is now over. Young audiences want to see truth, raw emotions and real-life struggles on screen. When Western cinema can present complex human relationships and dark themes without any hesitation, Indian cinema too has to step out of its box. ‘Toxic’ will make the Indian youth realize that our cinema is now fully prepared to tell adult, mature and global stories without any compromise at the international level.
Preparing to create a new history at the box office: Will ‘Toxic’ break the record of ‘KGF 2’?
‘Toxic’, being produced under the banner of KVN Productions and Monster Mind Creations, is being prepared to release in many Indian and international languages. The film’s budget is huge and its technical crew includes Hollywood action directors and visual effects experts.
Trade analysts believe that the global fan base that Yash has created after ‘KGF 2’ is enough to give ‘Toxic’ a historic opening at the box office. However, the film’s A-rated and bold mood will also give it a new audience that is crazy about Hollywood-style dark crime dramas. This bold and out-of-the-box move by Yash proves that he has the guts to constantly reinvent himself as a true global actor rather than remaining trapped in the image of a safe superstar.