31 August,2026 11:03 AM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
Yash with family (Pic/X)
Yash's journey from a bus driver's son to one of Indian cinema's biggest stars has often been cited as a testament to his determination and hard work. Now, his mother, Pushpa Arunkumar, has spoken up after Allu Aravind's old âWho was Yash before KGF?' remark resurfaced. Defending her son, she pointed to his successful run of films even before the KGF franchise changed his career.
Speaking to the press, Yash's mother, Pushpa Arunkumar, defended her son's success and said, "Before KGF, Yash delivered five back-to-back hits. So, if he is an ordinary person, a nobody as you claim, then why are you (the person concerned) threatened? He's not a terrorist. There's no need to ask who he was before KGF; he had delivered good films before it. Moreover, he was not born into wealth, unlike a few others. He is the son of a bus driver who rose to the top on his own. As a mother, I am proud of him," she said.
"Yash has built his position by working hard for years and giving successful films in Kannada cinema," she added.
The controversy dates back to 2023, when Allu Aravind spoke about KGF's success and questioned, "Who was Yash before KGF?" The remark drew criticism from the actor's fans. Yash had addressed the comment earlier on Rajat Sharma's Aap Ki Adalat, where he said, "I believe a film does not belong only to the producer. Many people work on a film, but the actor often gets most of the credit. Whether it is a supporting actor, writer or any other member of the team, everyone works hard. But if an actor cannot carry what has been created for him, the film may not work."
Toxic recently released in theatres after much delay and is getting a mixed response. On its first day, the film minted over Rs 101 crore at the India box office, surpassing the opening-day record of Ranveer Singh and Aditya Dhar's Dhurandhar: The Revenge. Given its impressive start, trade analysts had expected the film to shatter several box-office records. However, Toxic registered a massive decline in the following days.
Directed by Geetu Mohandas, Toxic: A Fairy Tale for Grown-Ups stars Yash, Nayanthara and Kiara Advani in the lead, alongside Huma Qureshi, Rukmini Vasanth and Tara Sutaria.
