For Toxic, Yash had to build a body that could belong to a very different character. The actor’s rugged new appearance is among the striking aspects of his look in Geetu Mohandas’ film, and getting there involved a demanding fitness routine designed specifically for the role.

The person working closely with Yash through that process was fitness trainer and bodybuilder Panipuri Kitty.

Kitty has been Yash’s personal trainer for several years and has been part of the actor’s fitness routine through different phases of his career. For Toxic, however, the training had a specific purpose: to create a physique that matched the character and the visual world of the film.

The actor, who did not follow a standard bodybuilding programme, Kitty worked on a customised workout plan and diet for Yash. The routine focused on building the physical form required for the character while maintaining the conditioning needed for the long and demanding shoot.

The preparation called for hours of training, discipline and consistency. Kitty was alongside Yash through the workouts, pushing him through the routine and making adjustments as the actor’s requirements changed.

What makes the transformation interesting is that the physique is closely tied to the character. Yash’s appearance in Toxic has a rougher, more rugged quality, and the physical preparation adds to that screen presence. The body becomes part of the character rather than simply an actor’s fitness statement.

For Kitty, this also comes from years of understanding Yash’s training needs. A trainer working with an actor has to consider the demands of a particular role, from the physical build to stamina and the ability to sustain that appearance through a lengthy production. With Toxic, Kitty’s job was to translate those requirements into a routine Yash could maintain.

The result is visible in the actor’s look in Toxic, but the work behind it happened away from the cameras. Long hours at the gym, a controlled diet and a routine that had to be followed consistently went into creating the physique seen on screen.

Directed by Geetu Mohandas, Toxic has already attracted attention for Yash’s distinct appearance and the film’s visual treatment. His physical transformation adds another piece to that picture, giving the character a physical identity of its own.

Behind the new Yash is a familiar face from his fitness routine. Panipuri Kitty’s role may have happened away from the spotlight, but his work has helped shape how the actor entered the world of Toxic.