09 January,2026 03:37 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
Geetu Mohandas on Toxic
The much-awaited promo of Yash's Toxic was released on his 40th birthday and has instantly become one of the major talking points on social media. While a section of the audience is gushing over Yash's heroism, some are slamming Geetu Mohandas over the objectification of women. It looks like the filmmaker has now given a befitting reply to those slamming the intimate scene.
Sharing a cryptic note on her social media, the director wrote, "Chilling while people figure out female pleasure, consent, women playing systems, etc., etc."
The teaser for Toxic: A Fairy Tale for Grown-Ups shows Yash's character having sex with a woman next to a cemetery and then entering the burial place with a gun. Behind them, a bomb is placed, yet the two remain completely unfazed. The calm at the cemetery is short-lived due to a sudden blast, and gunfire shatters the moment, plunging the scene into chaos. As smoke fills the air and bodies lie scattered, Raya steps forward with a Tommy gun in hand and a smoking cigar.
Soon after the teaser dropped, many people began talking about the intimate scene shown in it. A section of viewers felt the scene showed peak objectification of a woman. Geetu is also facing backlash for her past stance against the objectification of women in Malayalam cinema, especially in reference to the depiction of a scene in Mammootty's Kasaba.
Written by Yash and Geetu Mohandas and directed by Geetu Mohandas, Toxic: A Fairytale for Grown-Ups has been simultaneously shot in Kannada and English, with dubbed versions planned in Hindi, Telugu, Tamil, Malayalam, and several other languages. It is reportedly a gripping tale of crime and deception set in 1980s Goa, where a powerful drug cartel manipulates lives behind the state's picturesque beaches and vibrant culture.
The film features a formidable technical lineup, including National Award-winning cinematographer Rajeev Ravi. The makers had earlier unveiled the leading ladies of the film, including Kiara Advani, Nayanthara, Huma Qureshi, Rukmini Vasanth, and Tara Sutaria. It is slated for a worldwide theatrical release on March 19, coinciding with Eid, Ugadi, and Gudi Padwa.
