"Toxic: A Fairy Tale for Grown-Ups," the highly anticipated Kannada-language gangster epic starring Yash, is generating a wave of early buzz and mixed audience reactions ahead of its worldwide theatrical release Wednesday, Aug. 26, with advance bookings already surging past ₹45 crore across India.

Directed by Geetu Mohandas, whose previous credits include "Moothon," the film marks Yash's first theatrical release since 2022's blockbuster "KGF: Chapter 2," a movie that helped cement his status as one of Indian cinema's biggest stars. That track record has fueled intense curiosity over whether "Toxic" can replicate the earlier film's commercial success.

According to Tehelka, as of 3 p.m. on Aug. 25, "Toxic" had already grossed ₹35.31 crore in Day 1 advance bookings across India, with more than 1 million tickets sold across 19,704 shows spanning all languages and formats. Including blocked seats, the total advance gross climbed to ₹45.13 crore, positioning the film as one of the highest advance-booking releases of 2026. Separately, the Indian Express reported that advance bookings were on pace to cross ₹50 crore, with early projections suggesting a potential opening day gross approaching ₹100 crore.

Set in post-independence Goa, the film follows a gangster named Raya navigating loyalty, morality and the pursuit of personal redemption amid a violent and jealousy-fueled criminal underworld tied to a powerful drug cartel operating behind the region's sun-soaked coastal facade.........

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