Upendra Praises Yash's 'Toxic' as a 'New World,' Fans Split Over Film

Kannada actor Upendra has waded into the ongoing debate around Yash's latest release, 'Toxic: A Fairy Tale for Grown-Ups,' with a glowing review that has sharply divided social media users.

Directed by Geetu Mohandas, the gangster drama hit theatres on August 26 for the Onam weekend. While the film has drawn praise for its ambition and visual style, many critics and cinephiles have expressed disappointment with its narrative.

Upendra, however, offered an enthusiastic take. In a post on X written in both Kannada and English, he described the film as "a new world and an entirely new experience," commending the dedication of the cast and crew. He wrote, "Wow! What a movie! The hard work, dedication, and passion of every artist and technician are truly commendable! Hats off to Yash and the entire team!"

The reaction to Upendra's post was immediate and mixed. Some users agreed with his assessment, while others pushed back sharply. One commenter wrote, "Stop celebrating mediocrity," while another compared the film unfavorably to other Kannada productions, calling it "disgusting garbage" in contrast to films like 'Kabza' and 'Martin.'

Others defended Upendra's perspective, noting that the film's psychological themes align closely with his own cinematic sensibilities. One user remarked, "Psychological movie and upendra not supporting will never happen. It's his genre after all." Another went further, suggesting Upendra would have been the ideal director for the project, writing, "I always feel upendra should direct this film. The psychological thriller factory and the guilt. No one can direct better than him."

'Toxic' features Yash in dual roles, alongside a cast including Kiara Advani, Nayanthara, Huma Qureshi, Tara Sutaria, and Rukmini Vasanth. The film is produced jointly by Venkat K Narayana and Yash under KVN Productions and Monster Mind Creations LLP.