The criticism around Toxic: A Fairytale for Grown-Ups did not go unnoticed by Yash. At the film’s recent pre-release event, the actor spoke about the reactions to the movie’s portrayal of women and asked the audience to wait before judging the film based only on its promotional material.
Yash, who noticed several girls among the crowd, directly addressed them while talking about the discussion around the film. He said, “Society… they may say, they may not accept it but the point is everybody will look upon you. I am not respected for my money, I am respected for my work, and I know the director will prove that every woman and every girl can face every kind of situation, express their thoughts, express their vision and succeed in this society.”
The actor then asked women and girls to watch Toxic in theatres before forming an opinion about their roles.
He added, “There’s a voice for women in this film, unlike how it is coming across in the trailer. Watch the movie and enjoy. All you girls, you will have a blast.”
The comments come at a time when Toxic has been under discussion for its treatment of female characters. The teaser had faced criticism after a graphic intimate scene between Yash’s character and an unnamed woman in a van was released. Some viewers felt that the scene was aimed at the male gaze.
The film’s song Tabaahi also drew attention, with Kiara Advani facing trolling over her intimate scenes with Yash. After the trailer arrived, some viewers again questioned the screen time given to the female leads and raised concerns about how women have been presented in the film.
Directed by Geetu Mohandas, Toxic is a period gangster drama backed by KVN Productions and Yash’s Monster Mind Creations. The film stars Yash in a double role, alongside Nayanthara, Tara Sutaria, Kiara Advani, Huma Qureshi and Rukmini Vasanth. The project will hit cinema screens on August 26.