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Yash surprises fans with ‘vintage’ clean-shaven look in Toxic teaser, internet says he has left ‘KGF mode’ behind

The teaser of Toxic, led by Yash, was released by the makers on Friday. It marks Yash’s first film since the KGF franchise. 

Feb 20, 2026 01:41 pm IST
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Packed with high-octane action, from head-chopping sequences and bone-crunching fights, Yash is seen in a full-blown savage mode in the teaser of Toxic, which was released on Friday. In the middle of all the chaos and his menacing, the clip shows Yash ditching his signature long hair and heavy beard from the KGF era, flaunting a clean-shaven look with short hair. And the moment has sparked chatter across social media

Yash surprises fans with no beard look

Toxic is co-written by Yash and Geetu Mohandas.

The makers released the film's teaser on Friday. It marks Yash’s first film since the KGF franchise.

The teaser kicks off with Yash’s character, Raya, in a montage of intense battles and gritty fistfights, building up the tension before culminating in a striking reveal: a brief glimpse of Yash’s clean-shaven, short-haired look.

That glimpse was enough to set social media buzzing within minutes of the teaser drop. Social media users are picking up on Yash’s unexpected clean-shaven, short-haired look, with many gushing over how drastically different he appears from his iconic KGF-era rugged avatar.

One fan wrote, “For a while I thought they were introducing another actor, literally got shocked at the end when I realized it's #Yash himself.” Another added, “I’m so proud to be a fan of Yash he’s taking risks and bringing Indian cinema to a Hollywood level unlike many other actors who keep doing the same kinds of roles without taking any risks. Jai Yash Bosss.”

Many said he had left the ‘KGF mode behind’ after years of keeping the beard that he grew in 2018 for the two back-to-back KGF films. One wrote, “Haters : Yash can't take off his beard. Because he's KGF star… Meanwhile Yash : Hold on…” Another comment read, “Most of them - #Yash is nothing without Beard, Meanwhile Yash…”

“Same look since 8 years saar… Without beard he is nothing saar. But Yash had different plans,” one wrote.

About Toxic

Written by Yash and Geetu Mohandas and directed by Geetu Mohandas, Toxic: A Fairytale for Grown-Ups features Yash in the lead alongside Kiara Advani, Nayanthara, Huma Qureshi, Rukmini Vasanth, and Tara Sutaria.

The film ran into controversy when its first teaser was released with many coming forward to complain about certain scenes with many dubbing it as “grossly obscene, sexually explicit.”

The Women’s Commission slammed its teaser for the depiction of a sex scene, and a Christian group filed a complaint with the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) and others, claiming that the teaser hurts religious sentiments. Earlier this month, Karnataka Film Chamber of Commerce president Dr Jayamala commented on the row and said that the public must not rush to conclusions on the basis of a teaser alone.

Produced by Venkat K Narayana and Yash under the banners of KVN Productions and Monster Mind Creations, the film is slated for a worldwide theatrical release on March 19. It will clash with Ranveer Singh’s much-anticipated Dhurandhar 2, which is directed by Aditya Dhar.

 
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Sugandha Rawal

Sugandha Rawal has been writing about entertainment and lifestyle for over 13 years, and if there's one thing that's kept her going, it's a genuine love for storytelling. She completed her graduation in Journalism from the University of Delhi and went on to earn her Master of Media from IP University. Beginning her career in the fast-paced environment of news wire reporting, she learned the art of accuracy, speed, and storytelling under pressure. She later expanded her horizons in print journalism, where she honed her feature-writing skills and developed a keen eye for detail and narrative depth. These days, she's firmly rooted in digital journalism, adapting and evolving with a media landscape that never sits still. Over the years, Sugandha has covered everything from Bollywood and celebrity culture to wellness trends and lifestyle shifts. She enjoys spotting the drama behind headlines, the emotion behind interviews, and the details that others might miss. When she is not chasing the latest entertainment update or lifestyle trend, you will find her observing the cultural shifts that shape the stories we consume every day.

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