Dil Raju recalls his reaction to Yash's collaboration with Geetu Mohandas for Toxic after KGF: 'Thought he had gone mad'

Dil Raju's initial reaction to Yash's collaboration choice

At the Hyderabad pre-release event for Toxic: A Fairytale For Grown-Ups, producer-director Dil Raju, who is distributing the film in the Telugu states, recalled his initial reaction when he learned of Yash's decision to collaborate with director Geetu Mohandas after the huge success of the KGF franchise. As reported by multiple outlets, Dil Raju said, "After KGF, we thought Yash would do something even bigger. But when he introduced Geetu Mohandas, I thought he had gone mad. But after seeing those visuals in Mumbai, I understood his vision. Hats off to Yash."

That change of heart, he explained, came from watching the film's visuals in Mumbai, which he said left him stunned. He also praised filmmakers like Mohandas who, in his words, "after Rajamouli garu, are taking Indian cinema to a pan-world level." He added, "A film like this is possible only when you have vision and belief. We are releasing this film in the Telugu states by giving whatever the producers have asked for."

Hindustan Times and India Today both carried these comments from the event.

Geetu Mohandas's gratitude and the film's premise

At the same event, director Geetu Mohandas became emotional as she spoke about Yash's support for her vision. According to a quote reported by Hindustan Times and India Today, she said, "This film is a journey fuelled by the same belief and ambition. Yash believed in my dream and carried it on his shoulders. He gave me a chance when everybody doubted me. I will live up to the expectations of fans with Toxic."

Mohandas also said Yash carried her dream when everybody questioned her, a sentiment echoed across several reports. The event also featured composer Vishal Mishra's bold prediction that Toxic would collect ₹2,000 crore – a claim mentioned by India Today and Hindustan Times, with Dil Raju calling it "a testament to the entire team's confidence." Dil Raju also expressed his desire to work with Yash, saying, "I am also waiting to work with Yash garu. I will be looking forward to his announcement."

Cast, release details, and promotional backlash

Toxic: A Fairytale For Grown-Ups is a period gangster drama directed by Geetu Mohandas and co-written by her with Yash. The film marks Yash's major return to the big screen after KGF: Chapter 2. As reported by The Economic Times and Hindustan Times, the story explores a strained father-son relationship, with Yash playing dual roles as Raya (the father) and Rumi, also known as "Ticket" (the son). The cast includes Kiara Advani as Nadia (Rumi's mother), Nayanthara as Ganga (Raya's sister), and Huma Qureshi as Elizabeth, Tara Sutaria as Rebecca, and Rukmini Vasanth as Mellisa, according to The Times of India. International performers such as Kyle Paul, Beatriz Taufenbach, Surjith Gopinath, Benedict Garrett, and Tetiana Gaidar are also part of the ensemble, as reported by The Economic Times.

The film is produced by Venkat K Narayana's KVN Productions and Yash's Monster Mind Creations. Toxic is set for a theatrical release on August 26. According to The Economic Times, it was originally scheduled for March 19 and June 4 but both dates were delayed. The film had a reported budget of around ₹500–600 crore, according to the same outlet, and was shot in Bengaluru, Mumbai, Goa, Thoothukudi, and Jaipur between August 2024 and October 2025. The music includes contributions from Vishal Mishra, Ravi Basrur, Tanishk Bagchi and others, with Basrur composing the background score.

The film's teaser and trailer have sparked criticism. As reported by Hindustan Times and India Today, the teaser was criticised for a graphic scene, the song Tabaahi led to Kiara Advani being trolled over intimate scenes with Yash, and the trailer faced backlash for its portrayal of women. When asked about the controversy, Yash said, "The girls will have a blast" – a quote that appears in both reports.

Cross-generational praise and conflict in social media

Beyond the pre-release event, veteran actor Anupam Kher met Yash at a Mumbai studio and shared his admiration on social media. As per ANI and Lokmat Times, Kher called the meeting "a total joy" and praised Yash for giving his KGF character Rocky "a soul, a swagger and an unforgettable place in Indian cinema." He also noted Yash's warm, grounded, and thoughtful personality beyond his screen. Their conversation touched on cinema, life, families, and dreams. "Perhaps that is the beauty of cinema! We may belong to different generations, but our dreams speak the same language," Kher posted, extending best wishes for Toxic "to create its own magic."

Meanwhile, filmmaker Siddharth Anand, who has a next film King with Shah Rukh Khan, booked first-day-first-show tickets for Toxic and shared on X that he was going in without knowing what to expect. As reported by The Times of India, he called Yash "that superstar - so exciting and so unpredictable! He's broken the mould" and praised the film's promos as "fantastic and dynamic." But his enthusiasm was met with controversy by some social media users who remembered his recent dig at Telugu film flops. Hindustan Times reported on a Dave-month exchange where a user listed several Telugu movies including Devara, They Call Him OG, Kingdom, Peddi, The Raja Saab, and Daaku Maharaj and called them flops, to which Anand replied "Oops." Some fans see his support for Toxic as inconsistent with that remark, while others defended his admiration. The Times of India did not cover this exchange, focusing instead on his praise.

Perspectives

Yash's creative choice – Despite industrial and public doubts, Yash trusted Geetu Mohandas with his film, and she acknowledged his unshaken faith when most doubted her.

Distributor's confidence – Dil Raju, who hesitated initially, was won over by the visuals and the vision, comparing Yash and the filmmakers to SS Rajamouli for elevating Indian cinema on a pan-world scale.

Promotional backlash – The film's trailer and songs have drawn criticism for graphic and portrayal of women, central to a debate about the film's content in its marketing.

Cross-industry support – Siddharth Anand's positive reception highlights enthusiasm from other filmmakers, under sparse conditions given the recent clash with some Telugu box-office instances.

All the pointers

Toxic releases on August 26 worldwide.