‘Toxic’ trailer released: Here’s what it reveals about Yash’s dark action drama

After months of anticipation and multiple delays, Yash’s ‘Toxic: A Fairy Tale for Grown-Ups’ has finally offered a closer look at its dark and chaotic world. The trailer, released on August 8, brings together high-octane action, complicated relationships and a cast of characters whose motives remain largely hidden.

Directed by Geetu Mohandas, the film is scheduled to arrive in cinemas worldwide on August 26, 2026. While the trailer deliberately keeps much of the plot under wraps, it offers several clues about the characters and the violent world they inhabit.

Yash appears to have a double role

One of the biggest talking points from the trailer is Yash’s apparent portrayal of two characters. The preview introduces two brothers who look markedly different, with one sporting long, unruly hair and the other appearing with shorter hair and a beard. 

Their relationship appears central to the conflict, although the trailer stops short of explaining what drives them apart. The brothers seem to find themselves on opposing sides of an increasingly violent struggle, adding another layer to the film’s already complicated narrative.

The story is centred on Raya and his son, Ticket, with their relationship forming part of a wider web of rivalries and personal connections.

Watch trailer:

Kiara Advani’s character gets a glimpse

Kiara Advani is seen as a circus performer in the trailer, with her character appearing to share a complicated connection with Yash’s character.

The preview also hints at the protagonist’s interactions with several other women. One notable sequence shows Yash’s character in a tense exchange with a woman who expects him to have a “civilised conversation.” His response, “Do I look civilised to you?”, underlines the unpredictable nature of the character and the unconventional tone of the film.

Nayanthara, Huma Qureshi and others add to the mystery

The trailer also features Nayanthara, Huma Qureshi, Tara Sutaria and Rukmini Vasanth, but gives away little about their individual roles.

Rather than explaining the characters outright, the preview uses brief appearances and fragmented sequences to establish the world of ‘Toxic’. Circus performances, snowy locations, violence and fiery imagery appear throughout the trailer, suggesting that the film will move between contrasting visual and emotional landscapes.

The female characters appear to have significant connections to the central conflict, although their precise roles remain unclear.

A violent world unlike a conventional gangster drama

While ‘Toxic’ contains elements associated with crime and gangster films, its trailer suggests that Geetu Mohandas is attempting something broader.

The preview moves between stylised action and intimate character moments, creating a world where personal relationships appear to be just as dangerous as the physical conflicts. The filmmakers have also chosen to reveal enough of the characters to generate questions without giving away the larger story.

The film's first-look material, released on Yash's birthday in January, had already generated controversy over a cemetery sequence showing his character involved in violence. Complaints were filed by a Christian organisation and a state women's commission, while an FIR was also registered against the makers. Several members of the film industry subsequently voiced their support for the project.

Why was ‘Toxic’ delayed?

‘Toxic’ has undergone several changes to its release schedule. The film was initially planned for March 2026 but was later postponed amid uncertainty surrounding the situation in the Middle East.

A subsequent delay left the new release date unannounced for a period before the makers confirmed on Father's Day that the film would reach cinemas on August 26.

The film has been shot simultaneously in Kannada and English and is also expected to be released in dubbed versions in Hindi, Telugu, Tamil and Malayalam.

What is Yash’s next big project?

‘Toxic’ marks Yash’s return to the big screen after ‘KGF: Chapter 2’, making the film particularly significant for his fans.

The actor also has another major project lined up in 2026. He will portray Ravana in Nitesh Tiwari’s ‘Ramayana’, which stars Ranbir Kapoor as Lord Rama and Sai Pallavi as Sita.