Yash is puzzled by backlash over ‘vulgarity’ in Toxic, says film is for Gen Z: ‘Maine toh kiss bhi nahi kiya’

Kannada star Yash is all set to entertain audiences with his upcoming film Toxic: A Fairytale for Grown-Ups. The film's teaser sparked criticism over its portrayal of women, while the song Tabaahi, featuring Yash and Kiara Advani, also faced backlash over its intimate scenes. Now, Yash has responded to the criticism surrounding the 'vulgarity' in the film.

On Aap Ki Adalat, Yash was questioned about films featuring sex and gory action and why Gen Z is criticised for doing the same. Explaining that every older generation tends to feel that the younger generation is wrong, Yash addressed the criticism surrounding the steamy scenes in his film and said, “Vulgarity is wrong. Maine toh kiss bhi nahi kiya hain, agar aapne dekha hoga toh (Vulgarity is wrong. I haven’t even kissed, as you may have noticed). There is a certain line, and we understand that. You have to shoot things aesthetically, and what may seem visually appealing later is the impact of cinema. That is a creator’s voice.”

Yash added that the film was made with a specific intent, with emotions playing an important role. He said audiences would understand it once they watched the film. He said, "Toxic is for Gen-Zs. It's for the conversations you guys are having, what problems you guys have with the seniors. Us generation ke baare mein aap log jo questions puchte ho usme kya galti hain, kyun aisa fixed rules hai, kyun aisa hi karna chahiye. Whatever your thoughts are, it's the primary conversation of the film. (It is about the questions you ask about that generation - what is wrong with them, why there are fixed rules, why things have to be done a certain way)."

In Toxic, Kiara plays a circus performer named Nadia. The film's song Tabaahi showed her romancing Yash's character and featured steamy intimate scenes that caught the audience's attention. Following its release, Kiara was also trolled online over the scenes.

Helmed by Geetu Mohandas, Toxic is a gangster drama starring Yash in a double role. The film also stars Kiara Advani, Tara Sutaria, Huma Qureshi, Nayanthara and Rukmini Vasanth in key roles. The film marks Yash's return to the big screen after four years.

The film was initially scheduled to release in theatres in March 2026 but was delayed, citing tensions in the Middle East. It was later postponed to June before being pushed back again. Toxic is now scheduled to release in theatres on August 26.

Riya Sharma is a content producer at Hindustan Times who lives and breathes entertainment. If there’s gossip making noise in Bollywood or a reality show moment breaking the internet, chances are she’s already writing about it. She loves digging out the juiciest stories, spotting viral pegs and turning it into easy-to-read content. A journalism graduate from IP University, Riya began her career as a social media executive, where she learned the art of grabbing attention in a scroll-heavy world. But her love for showbiz soon pulled her into entertainment journalism, because for her, it’s always been entertainment, entertainment and more entertainment. An artist at heart, Riya has a deep passion for acting, music and dance, which shapes how she watches and writes about films and reality shows. She loves sharing her views and reviews, especially when something excites, surprises or completely disappoints her. A hardcore reality show fan, Riya enjoys tracking every twist, task and meltdown, and breaking them down for readers who can’t get enough of high-voltage drama. Movies are equally close to her heart, whether it’s a big theatrical release or a binge-worthy OTT series, she’s always watching, and analysing what’s worth the time. She loves talking to celebrities, asking questions that go beyond the usual. When she’s not working, she’s either glued to a new web series, hunting for underrated thrillers on OTT platforms, or rewatching iconic Bollywood moments.Read More