With its release around the corner, Yash's Toxic: A Fairy Tale for Grown-Ups has crossed the censor process, receiving an A (Adults Only) certificate from the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC). The film, slated to release worldwide on August 26, has also undergone a few CBFC-directed modifications ahead of its release.
The certification has also revealed another point: Toxic runs for around 3 hours and 14 minutes. At a time when event films are increasingly embracing longer runtimes, director Geetu Mohandas appears to have retained an expansive cut for her gangster drama.
Set in post-Independence Goa, Toxic follows a gangster caught between loyalty, morality and personal redemption in a world shaped by violence, jealousy and shifting allegiances. The film blends stylised action with emotional conflict, promising a darker and more mature narrative than the conventional commercial entertainer.
The film, produced by Venkat K Narayana's KVN Productions and Yash's Monster Mind Creations, brings together a strong technical team. Along with directing, Geetu Mohandas has also written the story with Yash. The film has cinematographer Rajeev Ravi and editor Ujwal Kulkarni, as well as a soundtrack from composers Ravi Basrur, Vishal Mishra, Tanishk Bagchi, Faheem Abdullah and Arslan Nizami.
Leading the ensemble is Yash, alongside Kiara Advani, Nayanthara, Huma Qureshi, Tara Sutaria and Rukmini Vasanth, Sudev Nair, Balaji Manohar, Akshay Oberoi with several international actors also playing key roles.
One aspect that continues to generate curiosity is the film's release strategy. Toxic was shot simultaneously in Kannada and English, before being dubbed in Hindi, Tamil, Telugu and Malayalam. With the Indian version now cleared following a few modifications, it remains unclear whether overseas audiences will get to watch the original English version in its uncut form or whether a similar, censored version will be released across international markets. The makers are yet to clarify this.
For Yash, Toxic marks his first release since KGF: Chapter 2. With its adults-only certification, lengthy runtime and multilingual rollout, the film is shaping up to be one of the year's biggest theatrical events.