Toxic trailer: Yash serves misogyny with a side of gore; Kiara Advani, Nayanthara may well be cardboard cutouts. Watch

Toxic stars Yash in a dual role, alongside Nayanthara, Kiara Advani, Tara Sutaria, Rukmini Vasanth, and Huma Qureshi. The film is directed by Geetu Mohandas.

The trailer for the much-anticipated action saga, Toxic: A Fairytale for Grownups, is out now, less than three weeks before the film is to release. Headlined by Yash, Toxic is a pan-India revenge drama that has already seen its fair share of discussion and controversy. The breakneck trailer only takes that tone forward, keeping the focus firmly on its lead star, violent action scenes, and gratuitous sex scenes.

Yash in a still from Toxic.

Toxic trailer out now

The trailer begins with a glimpse of Yash in a toxic relationship with his son. It introduces him as a ruthless killing machine, only to show him moments later vowing to kill his enemy's brother while being held at gunpoint. Another sequence, accompanied by a voiceover, highlights his character's ability to woo women and make each of them believe that she is the only one for him. In another scene, he appears to disrespect Kiara Advani's character. The trailer also shows women fighting over him, while one sequence has Yash baring it all.

Despite featuring actors such as Nayanthara, Huma Qureshi, Tara Sutaria and Rukmini Vasanth, the female characters barely register amid the trailer's relentless violence and gore. For the most part, the trailer appears to carry forward the same theme established in the film's teaser, positioning Yash's character at the centre of its world of violence, women and power.

Toxic’s delayed release

Toxic was originally scheduled for release in March, when it would have clashed with Ranveer Singh’s Dhurandhar 2. However, a few weeks before the release, Toxic was pushed back citing ‘uncertainty in the Middle East’. The film’s makers released a statement postponing the release to June. However, in May, the film was pushed back again, with no release date announced. Eventually, on Father’s Day, the makers announced that Toxic will release in theatres on August 26.

The controversy around Toxic

The first look of Toxic was released by the makers on January 8, Yash's birthday. The action-packed video opened with Yash making out with a woman inside a car and then gunning down several men. The video invited mixed reactions with praise from fans, but lots of criticism for the graphic sex scene picturised at a cemetery. It led to complaints from a Christian body, a state women’s commission, and even an FIR against the makers. However, many in the film fraternity defended the first look video, including filmmaker Anurag Kashyap.

The teaser also copped criticism for again focusing only on Yash and giving the five female leads very little screen time. The teaser, released in July, was also slammed for its misogynistic tones and imagery. However, the video broke several records with millions of views on YouTube within hours.

Toxic, directed by Geetu Mohandas, also stars Nayanthara, Kiara Advani, Huma Qureshi, Rukmini Vasanth, and Tara Sutaria in the lead roles. It will release in theatres on August 26.