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Toxic Twitter reviews: Yash film called ‘soulless, torture, and a complete nightmare’, viewers slam ‘chaotic writing’

Toxic released worldwide on August 26 with expectations running high, especially as it marks Yash's first theatrical release since KGF: Chapter 2.

Published on: Aug 26, 2026, 10:54:02 IST
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Toxic Twitter review: Yash has returned to theatres after four years with Toxic: A Fairy Tale for Grown-Ups, but the film has received a mixed response from audiences. Directed by Geetu Mohandas, the film released worldwide on August 26 with expectations running high, especially as it marks Yash's first theatrical release since KGF: Chapter 2. Made on a reported budget of around 500 crore, Toxic has certainly got people talking, with early reactions on X praising Yash's screen presence and the film's visuals, while others have taken aim at its writing, pace and heavy dose of violence.

Toxic positive twitter reviews

Toxic Twitter review: Yash's Toxic gets slammed for weak writing and violence despite praise for visuals
Toxic Twitter review: Yash's Toxic gets slammed for weak writing and violence despite praise for visuals

Yash's presence has emerged as one of the more consistent positives in the early reactions. The film's scale, stylish presentation and certain action sequences have also received praise, even from viewers who were disappointed by the overall narrative. "Although the film is technically rich, the chaotic screenplay, weak dialogues, and editing errors make it a nightmare. Ravi Basrur's background music was even more annoying. Yash's screen presence and the climax are the only relief," a netizen shared his X review.

Some viewers, meanwhile, felt the film's visual style and Yash's larger-than-life presentation were among its strongest elements. “Yash's stylish appearance, circus-like stunts, and rich visuals are the only plus points in this 3-hour violent drama. Director Geethu has delivered a boring film with poorly designed characters, forced bold scenes, and emotionless scenes,” another said.

Deep Dive

What are the main criticisms of the film Toxic according to viewers?

Viewers have criticized Toxic for chaotic writing, a lack of coherent storytelling, weak dialogue, and excessive violence, calling it a 'complete nightmare' and 'torture'.

How does Yash's performance in Toxic compare to his previous roles?

While Yash is praised for his screen presence and emotional depth in Toxic, some viewers noted similarities between his character Raya and his previous role as Rocky in the KGF series, questioning the distinctiveness of his portrayal.

What themes does Toxic explore through its plot and characters?

Toxic delves into themes of generational trauma and the impact of a troubled childhood on adult relationships, particularly through the complicated dynamics between the main character Raya and his estranged son.
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Toxic mixed twitter reviews

The comparisons with Yash's previous blockbuster franchise also came up repeatedly, with one viewer accusing the makers of leaning too heavily on the formula that worked for KGF. “They tried to imitate the KGF style and ended up with nothing. They relied solely on elevations and unnecessary violence without a story. Geethu Mohandas completely wasted a huge canvas,” another netizen posted.

Another reaction questioned whether the film's lengthy runtime could work in its favour, writing, “By the time #TOXIC ends, if you manage to sit through the entire three-hour runtime, you will not only feel bad for #Yash but also question why you gave this film three hours of your life. It also makes you think about all those hyped pre-release speeches from Yash, director Geetu Mohandas and the entire team. Either they were completely clueless about the final product, or the film leaves you wondering if you are the clueless one.”

One critic simply wrote, “#TOXIC - TORTURE! A Boring, Soulless, Violent Action Drama!”

The premise

Set in Goa between the 1950s and 1970s, when Portuguese rule was beginning to weaken, Toxic follows Raya, a man who builds his place in the city's violent criminal world and drug trade. Yash plays two characters in the film — Raya, the older gangster, and Rumi, also known as Ticket, his estranged son who returns with revenge on his mind. The film also features Kiara Advani, Nayanthara, Tara Sutaria, Huma Qureshi and Rukmini Vasanth in key roles.

Strong opening despite mixed word of mouth

The mixed reactions on social media have not stopped Toxic from making a strong start at the box office. The film had already clocked 49 crore in Day 1 advance bookings in India. Trade estimates currently put its opening-day India gross at around 80-100 crore, while projections suggest the film could cross the 100 crore mark worldwide, with estimates ranging between 100 crore and 120 crore.

 
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Monica Yadav

Monica Yadav is a senior entertainment journalist with Hindustan Times Entertainment, based in Mumbai, with nearly 11 years of experience covering Bollywood, Hollywood and Asian entertainment, including Korean, Chinese and Thai cinema, television and music. She is among the few Indian journalists in India with a dedicated focus on Korean entertainment, including K-pop and K-dramas, and has interviewed some of the industry's biggest stars while closely tracking the rise of global pop culture. Her reporting has also taken her beyond India, where she has covered travel, culture and entertainment. Alongside her work at Hindustan Times, her bylines have appeared in several international publications. Known for her in-depth interviews, feature stories and engaging storytelling, Monica enjoys exploring the human side of entertainment. From breaking news and long-form features to music coverage, explainers and on-camera conversations with artists, she is passionate about telling stories that connect with audiences across the world.

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