‘Dhurandhar’ Director Aditya Dhar Lauds Yash’s ‘Toxic’ Amid Film Backlash

Bollywood's 'Dhurandhar' director Aditya Dhar has thrown his weight behind Kannada superstar Yash, publicly supporting the actor's latest cinematic outing, Toxic: A Fairy Tale for Grown-Ups, which has opened to a divisive response from critics and audiences alike. Dhar's gesture, shared via his Instagram Stories, has not only amplified the ongoing discussion around the film but has also sparked considerable excitement among fans envisioning a powerful collaboration between the two industry titans. ‘Toxic’ Movie Review: His Aura Hits You! Yash’s Stylish Gangster Drama and Psychological Thriller Delivers the Goods.

Aditya Dhar Shows Support to 'Toxic'

On September 1, 2026, Aditya Dhar, the 43-year-old director behind the highly successful Dhurandhar duology, took to his Instagram Stories to express his support for Yash. His brief yet impactful post featured a striking picture of Yash from Toxic, simply captioned "Yash". This clear show of solidarity from the filmmaker comes at a crucial time when Toxic, released just days ago, continues to grapple with a barrage of mixed to negative reviews.

Amid  ‘Toxic’ Backlash, Aditya Dhar Extends Support to Yash 

Fans were quick to notice Dhar's post, interpreting it as a strong endorsement of Yash's performance and the film's effort. The support is particularly significant given that Dhar's own film, Dhurandhar: The Revenge, released earlier this year on March 19, 2026, was a monumental box office success, grossing over INR 1852 crore worldwide.

Speculations of a Powerhouse Collaboration

Dhar's Instagram Story immediately ignited a flurry of discussions on social media platforms, with many fans openly calling for a joint project between the Uri: The Surgical Strike director and the KGF star. "Dhurandhar Meets Toxic. Aditya Dhar Insta Story. Please Collab for a Massive Project, i kindly Request," one user reportedly wrote. The idea of a pan-Indian collaboration between Dhar and Yash, both known for their large-scale, high-impact cinema, has clearly resonated deeply with movie enthusiasts.

'Toxic' Journey to the Big Screen and Its Reception

Toxic: A Fairy Tale for Grown-Ups, directed by Geetu Mohandas, finally hit screens worldwide on August 26, 2026. The film, starring Yash in a central dual role as Raya / Ticket alongside an ensemble cast including Kiara Advani, Nayanthara, Huma Qureshi, Tara Sutaria, and Rukmini Vasanth, is a psychological thriller gangster drama.

The movie, which runs for 3 hours and 12 minutes (192 minutes) and received an 'A' certificate from the CBFC, was simultaneously shot in Kannada and English and released in multiple dubbed versions. The path to its release was not without its hurdles, as Toxic saw multiple postponements from its initial target dates, including March 19, 2026, which would have seen it clash directly with Dhurandhar: The Revenge.

Addressing earlier rumours about avoiding a clash, Yash, who is 40 years old, previously stated, "When my movie was supposed to release on March 19 (and postponed), I know a lot of people said about me ki main bhi darr gaya (I got scared). Zindagi me khone ka kuch hai hi nahi to darr hai hi nahi (I have nothing to lose in life, so I have no fear)."

Despite the mixed critical reception, Toxic has shown a decent performance at the box office. As of Day 7, September 1, 2026, the film garnered INR 226 crore net in India. Sumalatha Ambareesh Defends Yash’s ‘Toxic’ Amid Mixed Reviews, Hails His Performance.

Aditya Dhar's public backing of Yash underscores a sense of camaraderie within the film fraternity, even as it fuels anticipation for what could be a truly grand cinematic venture if the two celebrated talents decide to join forces in the future.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Sep 02, 2026 12:29 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).