Filmmaker Anurag Kashyap has defended the teaser of the upcoming pan-India film Toxic: A Fairy Tale for Grown-Ups, describing the criticism it received as reflective of deeper cultural double standards in Indian society. His remarks came during a session at the 17th Bengaluru International Film Festival, where he addressed the controversy surrounding the film’s first-look teaser.
The teaser, released on January 8 to coincide with lead actor Yash’s birthday, sparked widespread discussion after a brief sexually suggestive scene involving Yash and a female co-star drew online backlash. Critics argued the clip was explicit and unnecessary, with some labelling it pandering to the male gaze.
Speaking on cinema and societal reactions at the festival’s “Fearless Filming” session, Kashyap praised Toxic as “an extremely courageous attempt.” He questioned why similar bold content involving male actors rarely faces equivalent scrutiny. “The outrage expressed against the teaser reveals our cultural hypocrisy. When male actors appear shirtless on screen or display excessive machismo, no one questions it. But when a woman celebrates her sexuality, it becomes hard to accept,” Kashyap said, highlighting what he sees as uneven standards.
Beyond the online debate, the film’s teaser also drew formal objections. The Aam Aadmi Party’s Women’s Wing filed a complaint with the Karnataka State Commission for Women, asserting that the visuals could harm social values and “degrade the dignity of women and children.” The commission reportedly wrote to the Central Board of Film Certification seeking action.
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The controversy intensified when Beatriz Taufenbach, the female actor featured in the contentious clip, deleted her social media accounts amid the flood of criticism.
Directed by Geetu Mohandas and co-written by her and Yash, Toxic has been shot in both Kannada and English and features a cast that includes Nayanthara, Kiara Advani, Huma Qureshi, Tara Sutaria, and Rukmini Vasanth. The film is scheduled to release in theatres on March 19, 2026, when it will compete at the box office with titles such as Dhurandhar Part 2: The Revenge.
More Pages: Toxic Box Office Collection
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