‘Toxic’ Trailer Launch Exclusive: Yash Defends Kiara Advani, Geetu Mohandas Calls ‘Rocking Star’ ‘An Emotion’ (Watch Videos)

The team behind Rocking Star Yash's upcoming action thriller Toxic: A Fairy Tale for Grown-Ups gathered in Bengaluru, Karnataka, on Saturday, August 8, for a star-studded trailer launch event at AMB Cinemas ahead of the film's theatrical release on August 26. Hosted by Danish Sait, the event had exclusive press invitation for a section of the Indian media and saw the presence of LatestLY. The grand event of the Toxic trailer launch brought together lead actor and co-writer Yash, director Geetu Mohandas, producer Venkat K Narayana, and an ensemble cast including Nayanthara, Kiara Advani, Huma Qureshi, Tara Sutaria, Rukmini Vasanth and Akshay Oberoi. Sidharth Malhotra Hails Wife Kiara Advani’s ‘Toxic’ Trailer, Calls It Her Best Performance Yet.

Highlights from ‘Toxic’ Trailer Launch in Bengaluru

Held at AMB Cinemas at Kapali Mall in Bengaluru in the presence of national media and fans, the press conference and trailer launch of Toxic marked the first major public appearance of the film's cast and crew. Here's a lowdown on what happened at the event.

‘Toxic’ Trailer - Watch Video:

Highlights from ‘Toxic’ Trailer Launch

The event featured onstage speeches from the cast and creative team, who shared insights into the movie's multi-year production journey, responded to recent online discussions, and highlighted the collaborative effort involved in bringing the project to scale.

Geetu Mohandas Calls Yash 'An Emotion' - Watch Video:

Toxic director Geetu Mohandas addressed the audience about her experience collaborating with the lead actor, describing Yash as far more than a star actor, producer, or co-writer. She publicly praised his commitment to her vision, calling him "an emotion" who consistently supported the project through its scale and demands.

Yash Praises Kiara Advani's Performance in 'Toxic'

Yash took time during his address to publicly stand by co-star Kiara Advani following online criticism regarding her role and scenes in the project. Praising her down-to-earth attitude and commitment to the character Nadia, Yash advised her to ignore negative commentary, especially around the song Tabaahi, stating, "Whatever you believe in, you should do and people will appreciate. It's just that we are a little ahead of the times".

Yash Defends Kiara Advani Against Trolling for 'Toxic' Song 'Tabaahi' - Watch Video:

Kiara Advani on 'Toxic' Being Her Best Performance Yet

Addressing the audience in a structured white ensemble, Kiara Advani expressed gratitude to Geetu Mohandas and Yash, stating she believed the duo "manifested" the role of Nadia for her. Kiara noted that the challenging role pushed her as an actor, predicting that viewers would see a clear "before Toxic and after Toxic" shift in her career.

Kiara Advani Speaks on Her Transformation in 'Toxic' - Watch Video:

Yash Expresses Gratitude to His Wife Radhika Pandit

Reflecting on the intense 4.5-year development cycle and demanding physical transformations required for the role, Yash thanked his wife, Radhika Pandit, who was in attendance. He acknowledged the personal sacrifices involved in managing a multi-year production and stepping out of his comfort zone.

Yash Calls 'Toxic' and 'Indian Movie', Not Just Kannada Movie

Emphasising the collaborative nature of the project, Yash stated onstage that the film transcends any single individual. "This movie is not Yash's film. This is an Indian film where all the top stars, where all the successful people, where all the talented people have kept their insecurities, their goals, or even their egos aside and come for just one cause – to put an Indian film on a global map," he declared.

Yash Declares 'Toxic' an Indian Movie - Watch Video:

Nayanthara All Praise for Yash, Geetu Mohandas and 'Toxic' Actresses

Nayanthara addressed her rare presence at promotional events, explaining that while she typically avoids them because she feels uncomfortable on stage, she made an exception after a single call from Yash. Recalling her first meeting with the actor, she remarked that his real-life presence mirrored his larger-than-life "Rocky Bhai" persona.

Nayanthara praises Yash at 'Toxic' Trailer Launch - Watch Video:

Nayanthara lauded his 4.5-year dedication to Toxic, praising his work ethic and family sacrifices, while also acknowledging director Geetu Mohandas, with whom she acted 20 years ago and co-stars Kiara Advani, Huma Qureshi, and Rukmini Vasanth.

Host Danish Sait brought lighthearted humour to the stage while introducing producer Venkat K Narayana of KVN Productions, quipping about the sheer scale and massive budget of the multi-starrer project by joking about how remarkably deep Narayana’s pockets must be. Fact Check: Is That Kiara Advani Alongside Karan Deol in New ‘Batwara 1947’ Poster? Here’s the Truth.

Danish Sait Jokes on Producer Venkat K Narayana's Deep Pockets - Watch Video:

Taking the stage in good humour, Narayana responded modestly to the banter by redirecting credit to the film's team and vision, explaining that the scale of Toxic is a reflection of Yash’s relentless pursuit of excellence and the collaborative passion of the entire cast and crew.

'Toxic' Release Date

Toxic releases worldwide on August 26, 2026. Filmed in Kannada and English, the movie will be dubbed in Hindi, Telugu, Tamil and Malayalam for the pan-India audience.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Aug 10, 2026 11:53 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).