Toxic: A Fairy Tale for Grown-Ups

Toxic: A Fairy Tale for Grown-Ups — Release Date: 26 August, 2026. Directed by Geetu Mohandas, starring Yash, Kiara Advani, Nayanthara and Huma Qureshi. Produced by Venkat K. Narayana and Yash under KVN Productions and Monster Mind Creations, the film is a period action gangster drama simultaneously shot in Kannada and English.

Set across multiple decades from the 1940s to the 1970s, Toxic: A Fairy Tale for Grown-Ups unfolds within a stylized underworld shaped by crime, power struggles and shifting alliances. The narrative centers on Raya and Ticket, dual characters played by Yash, whose lives intersect with a volatile network of criminals, political forces and personal betrayals. Through its layered structure, the film explores themes of ambition, loyalty and the rise of power within a turbulent historical backdrop.

The film brings together a large ensemble cast including Kiara Advani, Nayanthara, Huma Qureshi, Tara Sutaria and Rukmini Vasanth, alongside Tovino Thomas and Akshay Oberoi. Several international actors also feature in supporting roles, reflecting the film’s globally positioned production scale.

Toxic was officially announced in December 2023 under the working title Yash 19, marking Yash’s next project after the success of the KGF franchise. Director Geetu Mohandas collaborated closely with Yash on the writing process, shaping the film’s narrative structure and character arcs. Cinematography is handled by Rajeev Ravi, while the music is composed by Ravi Basrur, Vishal Mishra, Tanishk Bagchi, Faheem Abdullah and Arslan Nizami.

Principal photography began in August 2024 in Bengaluru following a traditional pooja ceremony. Large-scale sets recreating mid-20th-century environments were constructed near the city, and filming later extended to Mumbai, Goa, Thoothukudi and Jaipur. Action sequences were choreographed by Hollywood stunt coordinator J. J. Perry.

With a reported production budget between ₹1100 crore and ₹1200 crore, Toxic is positioned among the most ambitious Indian film productions. The film is scheduled for worldwide theatrical release on 26 August 2026 in Kannada, Hindi, Telugu, Tamil, Malayalam and English.