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Dil Raju recalls his reaction to Yash's collaboration with Geetu Mohandas for Toxic after KGF: 'Thought he had gone mad'

At a pre-release event for Toxic: A Fairytale For Grown-Ups, producer Dil Raju expressed his initial doubts about Yash's collaboration with Geetu Mohandas.

Published on: Aug 23, 2026, 17:27:16 IST
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Kannada star Yash is all set to entertain audiences with his upcoming film, Toxic: A Fairytale For Grown-Ups. At a recent pre-release event in Hyderabad, the cast and crew of the film came together to interact with fans. Producer Dil Raju, who is distributing the film in the Telugu states, also attended the event and opened up about Yash’s decision to collaborate with director Geetu Mohandas after the massive success of KGF.

Dil Raju on Geetu Mohandas directing Yash's next after KGF Chapter 2

Dil Raju recalls his reaction to Yash collaborating with Geetu Mohandas for Toxic.
Dil Raju recalls his reaction to Yash collaborating with Geetu Mohandas for Toxic.

Dil Raju revealed that he was initially not convinced when he learned that Yash’s next project after KGF would be with Geetu Mohandas. He said, "After KGF, we thought Yash would do something even bigger. But when he introduced Geetu Mohandas, I thought he had gone mad. But after seeing those visuals in Mumbai, I understood his vision. Hats off to Yash."

He added, "I would like to thank filmmakers like this who, after Rajamouli garu, are taking Indian cinema to a pan-world level. A film like this is possible only when you have vision and belief. The visuals of this film left me stunned. We are releasing this film in the Telugu states by giving whatever the producers have asked for."

Deep Dive

Why did Dil Raju initially doubt Yash's collaboration with Geetu Mohandas for Toxic?

Dil Raju expressed doubt because he expected Yash’s follow-up project after KGF to be even bigger, and he was surprised by Yash's choice of Geetu Mohandas as the director.

What are Yash's comments on the backlash regarding the portrayal of women in Toxic?

Yash addressed the criticism at the pre-release event, stating that 'girls will have a blast' watching the film and emphasized that there is a voice for women in the story.

What themes are explored in the film Toxic?

Toxic explores themes of love, power, betrayal, and redemption, alongside the complex relationship between a father and son.
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Talking about the film, filmmaker Geetu Mohandas became emotional at the pre-release event and said, "This film is a journey fuelled by the same belief and ambition. Yash believed in my dream and carried it on his shoulders. He gave me a chance when everybody doubted me. I will live up to the expectations of fans with Toxic."

About Toxic: A Fairytale For Grown-Ups

The period gangster drama is produced by Venkat K Narayana’s KVN Productions and Yash’s Monster Mind Creations. The film stars Yash in a double role and explores the strained relationship between a father and his son. It also features Nayanthara, Kiara Advani, Tara Sutaria, Huma Qureshi and Rukmini Vasanth in key roles.

The film's promotional material has faced backlash on social media. The teaser was criticised for its graphic sex scene, while the song Tabaahi led to Kiara Advani being trolled over her intimate scenes with Yash. The trailer also disappointed some fans, with several viewers criticising the portrayal of women in the film. However, addressing the backlash at the pre-release event, Yash said that "the girls will have a blast" watching the film. Toxic is scheduled to release in theatres on August 26.

 
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Riya Sharma

Riya Sharma is a content producer at Hindustan Times who lives and breathes entertainment. If there’s gossip making noise in Bollywood or a reality show moment breaking the internet, chances are she’s already writing about it. She loves digging out the juiciest stories, spotting viral pegs and turning it into easy-to-read content. A journalism graduate from IP University, Riya began her career as a social media executive, where she learned the art of grabbing attention in a scroll-heavy world. But her love for showbiz soon pulled her into entertainment journalism, because for her, it’s always been entertainment, entertainment and more entertainment. An artist at heart, Riya has a deep passion for acting, music and dance, which shapes how she watches and writes about films and reality shows. She loves sharing her views and reviews, especially when something excites, surprises or completely disappoints her. A hardcore reality show fan, Riya enjoys tracking every twist, task and meltdown, and breaking them down for readers who can’t get enough of high-voltage drama. Movies are equally close to her heart, whether it’s a big theatrical release or a binge-worthy OTT series, she’s always watching, and analysing what’s worth the time. She loves talking to celebrities, asking questions that go beyond the usual. When she’s not working, she’s either glued to a new web series, hunting for underrated thrillers on OTT platforms, or rewatching iconic Bollywood moments.

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