The promotional video for Toxic: A Fairy Tale for Grown-Ups, which was released earlier, faced massive backlash over the portrayal of sex scenes. Days later, the director Geetu Mohandas had addressed the backlash. Now, the lead actor and producer, Yash, has broken his silence months later. Yash insisted that director Geetu Mohandas brought a ‘female gaze’ to the action film.
Yash on Geetu Mohandas` direction
While interacting with American content creator and host Sabeen Faheem at CinemaCon recently, Yash spoke about how Geetu, as a female, approached the action gangster drama. When Sabeen remarked how it was rare to see a woman director like Geetu helming an action film like Toxic in India, Yash agreed, saying, “That’s the most exciting part. So what happens is that when you generally say action films, it’s only restricted to male directors. That’s been historically (true) in India. A lot of people have done that. A large-scale action film, that too a gangster film with a female gaze, is something which is very new and refreshing.”
Yash then touched upon how Geetu showed romance and sensuality in Toxic, emphasising that no one else would show it in a way she did. “Thoughts are very clear, and she has a strong conviction in whatever she does. And she’s a fabulous writer. I could learn so much, you know. The desire quotient or certain emotions, romance or sensuality, how a female can show, a woman can present, is entirely different is what I’ve realised in this journey,” he shared.
When Geetu Mohandas addressed the sex scenes in Toxic
Interestingly, right from the beginning, Geetu has never been shy about showing sensuality in Toxic. In a teaser that was released in January 2025 on the occasion of Yash`s birthday, a graphic scene involving a bomb, a car and a cemetery came under scrutiny, with many on the internet criticising it. In one of the scenes, Yash is shown having sex with a woman inside a car outside a cemetery. The National Christian Federation also lodged a formal complaint over ‘hurt sentiments’.
In another video, the actor is seen entering a casino with women dancing in glittery costumes and fishnet stockings.
After facing backlash, Geetu addressed the flak with a cryptic post on her Instagram that read, “Chilling while people figure out female pleasure, consent, women playing systems, etc etc.” Toxic was expected to be released on March 19, clashing with Dhurandhar: The Revenge; however, it was later postponed amid the West Asia conflict. Toxic will now be released on June 4.
Toxic sensual scenes: Yash explains intimacy via female gaze in upcoming film
