‘Won't do it for free...’ Yash reacts to ‘condom ad’ jibes over ‘Tabaahi’

Yash has a rather simple answer for those comparing Tabaahi, the latest song from ‘Toxic: A Fairy Tale for Grown-Ups’, to a condom advertisement. Instead of taking the trolling too seriously, the actor turned the criticism into a joke during his appearance on Aap Ki Adaalat.

The song, which features Yash and Kiara Advani, has faced strong reactions online since its release, with some viewers comparing its visuals and intimate tone to a condom commercial.

Asked about the comparison on the show, Yash replied with a laugh, “Agar condom ad karna hai, toh paise leke karunga. Aise muft mein nahi karunga…” (If I have to do a condom ad, I will do it for money. I won't do it for free like this.)

His response left the audience laughing.

The actor also spoke about the criticism aimed at Toxic over its intimate and sexual content. Yash insisted that the film does not cross the line into vulgarity and said the makers were careful about how such scenes were presented.

“Vulgarity is wrong. Maine toh kiss bhi nahi kiya hain, agar aapne dekha hoga toh.” (I haven't even kissed, if you have noticed), he said.

Yash explained that cinema can deal with intimate subjects without making them vulgar. According to him, the way such moments are filmed matters just as much as the content itself.

“There is a certain line, and we understand that. You have to shoot things aesthetically, and what may seem visually appealing later is the impact of cinema. That is a creator's voice,” he said.

The actor also spoke about what Toxic is trying to say, particularly through its younger audience.

“Toxic is for Gen-Zs. It’s for the conversations you guys are having, what problems you guys have with the seniors,” Yash said.

He went on to explain that the film looks at the questions younger people have about rules, expectations and the way older generations think.

“What is wrong with the generation you question, why are there fixed rules and why does everything have to be done in a particular way? Whatever your thoughts are, that is the primary conversation of the film.”

Toxic finally gets an August release

The Geetu Mohandas directorial has already gone through a few changes to its release schedule. It was initially planned for March before being pushed to June, with the makers citing uncertainty in the Middle East at the time.

The film is now scheduled to release on August 26, 2026.

Shot in both Kannada and English, ‘Toxic’ will also be released in dubbed versions of Hindi, Telugu, Tamil and Malayalam.

The film is backed by KVN Productions and Monster Mind Creations.

‘Toxic’ brings together a strong ensemble alongside Yash, with Nayanthara, Kiara Advani, Huma Qureshi, Tara Sutaria and Rukmini Vasanth in important roles.

Yash plays Raya, while Kiara appears as Nadia, Nayanthara as Ganga, Huma as Elizabeth, Tara as Rebecca and Rukmini as Mellisa. The film also features Akshay Oberoi and Sudev Nair in supporting roles.