I don’t attend promotional events because I am not very good at it. But for Toxic, I think it’s just Yash. He made a call, and it was enough for me to attend the event,” said Nayanthara when the host Danish Sait asked her why she stays away from movie promotions. The Lady Superstar was on stage moments after the trailer for Toxic: A Fairy Tale for Grown-Ups was launched in Bengaluru on August 08, 2026 (Saturday).

It’s natural for artistes to wax eloquent about working with their co-stars and director during a promotional event. Even if you consider this aspect, Nayanthara’s impression about Yash says something about the Kannada star’s force of personality.

Yash walked into the event with something he has always carried in abundance: confidence. It’s this conviction that makes people take him seriously. He has a way of making you want to be part of his projects. “I have worked with a lot of superstars. They are all really cool people. That’s why they are stars. But when I first met Yash, I felt I was entering Rocky Bhai’s (Yash’s character in the KGF films) kingdom,” said Nayanthara. “The kind of larger-than-life image he has on screen, that’s exactly how he is in real life as well.”

After 200 days of shooting and more than four years of association with the project, Yash is finally closer to seeing his ambition come alive on the big screen. The film hits the screens on August 26, 2026. Many see Toxic as a litmus test for Yash to prove that KGF’s success wasn’t a one-off. After entering the big league with Prashanth Neel’s twin films, it’s incredible that Yash chose to be the driving force behind his next project rather than settle into the role of a star who does his part, collects his paycheck, and moves on to the next project.

In Toxic, apart from playing the lead, Yash is the co-writer and co-producer. This holistic interest in a project has defined his career. With Yash, you see a star who revels in taking ownership of his projects. This spirited attitude was evident during his appearances at CinemaCon and Comic-Con events.

The biggest takeaway from Yash’s interaction with foreign media was his casual embrace of the ‘local’ boy in him. “We have an area called Majestic in Bengaluru. That’s where I will be watching Toxic with fans on its release day. There is a different way to celebrate and consume cinema. People dance, sing, throw coins and turn the theatre into a stadium,” he said in an interview.

Here was an actor who didn’t feel the need to distance himself from his pre-stardom days simply because he was speaking to the foreign media. Not overawed by the occasion, a composed Yash spoke about the uniqueness of his films, without making them sound bigger than they are.

Very few Kannada commercial cinema stars have displayed global ambitions like Yash has in recent times. The trailer launch event was one step closer to the culmination of his rollercoaster journey since he first dreamt of pushing his boundaries.

As Nayanthara, Kiara Advani, Rukmini Vasanth, Tara Sutaria, and Huma Qureshi, the star-studded cast of Toxic, stood on the stage, fans were quick to recall Yash’s bold statement, which was seen by some as overconfidence. When asked if Bollywood was his next step after the success of KGF, the actor had said, “I am not going everywhere. I will bring everyone here.”

The jump to Bollywood after a pan-India success has been a template for actors from South India. Yash staying away from the usual step isn’t surprising. It’s questionable that he has taken so long to bring out Toxic. He indirectly addressed the film’s delay, stressing how careful one must be in a field where downfall is celebrated, and your next step is always questioned.

“Some journeys have several hurdles, but you can’t lose focus on the destination. You have to fight your battles before you reach your target,” said Yash, before quoting the famous Kannada proverb, kaalakke thakkante nadibeku, thaalakke thakkante kunibeku. It means one must conduct oneself according to time and circumstances — a reminder that, despite his stature, Yash does not consider himself bigger than the art form.

Yash’s reasoning was followed by a confession. “It wasn’t an easy film to make,” he said. “We had to take some tough decisions,” he added, referring to his collaborative effort with director Geetu Mohandas. The pairing of Yash and Geetu Mohandas in Toxic continues to be a talking point among fans. The sensibilities of Yash and Geetu are like chalk and cheese.

It’s an unusual pair-up, but Yash’s choice of directors has always been unpredictable. “When it comes to a director, I don’t see their past success. I want to see how passionate they are about their idea. When Geetu came to me with the idea of Toxic, I sensed a burning desire in her to show the world what she is capable of.”

Fans of Yash are currently engaged in the exercise of fetching old videos of the actor expressing his desire to make it big. He once dreamt of having a huge cutout in Gandhinagar, the erstwhile film hub of Bengaluru. On Saturday, they were proud to see his star host one of the biggest events in his career in the same area. A dance step he tried during a performance at a college in Mysuru has made it to the movie. Yash didn’t hold back from adding to the nostalgia. “I am from Paduvaralli in Mysore ya,” he said with a chuckle. “You all know how my English was before.”

The remarkable growth is apparent, and money alone can’t bring the change. Your spirited approach to fresh challenges makes the difference. “It’s tough to be friends with me. In fact, it’s tough to be associated with me in any manner. I don’t listen to people who say I can’t do certain things. If I can clearly see my goal, nothing will stop me from achieving it with time and effort,” he said.

This clarity of thought could serve as a shield for Yash if Toxic fails to create magic with the audience. Cinema spares nobody. The film industry has a history of highly ambitious movies famously failing at the box office. For Yash, that self-belief should ensure a setback doesn’t derail his career. And if the film works, the fairytale continues.

Toxic: A Fairy Tale for Grown-Ups releases on August 26, 2026

Published - August 09, 2026 07:58 pm IST