As Yash-starrer Toxic: A Fairy Tale for Grown-Ups heads towards its August 26 worldwide release, veteran filmmaker SV Rajendra Singh Babu has responded to the criticism of the film voiced by his daughter, actor Rishika Singh.

Rishika had recently raised objections to the visuals in the film’s trailer and songs, particularly the way women are portrayed. Her comments sparked a reaction among Yash fans on social media. Now, speaking about her remarks, Rajendra Singh Babu has made it clear that he views them as her personal opinion while taking a strongly positive stand on Yash and Toxic.

Asked about Rishika’s criticism, the veteran filmmaker said, “That is her personal opinion. As I have said earlier, we should all be proud of the films Yash is making.”

He also pointed to the scale of Toxic and what it represents for Kannada cinema. According to him, Yash taking on a film of this size and playing a character like Ravana is a sign of how far the Kannada film industry’s reach has grown.

“The entire country is waiting for Toxic. We should be proud of this,” he said.

Rajendra Singh Babu went a step further in praising Yash, calling the actor the “Kohinoor diamond of our film industry”. He also credited Yash with taking Kannada cinema to a wider audience and said he was proud of the actor’s growth and achievements.

Rishika, however, had taken a sharply different position. In a social media video, she questioned the portrayal of women in Toxic and asked how Yash, as a husband and father, could agree to scenes that she felt were disrespectful towards women. She had also warned that filmmakers should face public opposition if women are not given due respect on screen.

With Toxic set for a worldwide release on August 26 and advance bookings opening on August 21, the focus now remains on the film and the response it receives in theatres.