The high-octane chatter about Rocking Star Yash’s upcoming film Toxic: A Fairy Tale for Grown-Ups is becoming a contentious one. The teaser has set viewership records around the world but has also been bemoaned as "obscene content." Finally, with complaints mounted against the Women’s Commission and the Censor Board, CBFC Chairperson Prasoon Joshi has now responded to the public outcry.
The “Certification” Clarification
Speaking on the sidelines of a recently held industry event, Joshi clarified a big misconception. In response to calls to either ban the 'Toxic' teaser or take its certification away, Joshi noted that the board has not yet received the film for review. "Until a film is formally submitted to the Censor Board, I will not comment on it,” Joshi explained. “ But I just need to make it clear that a lot of what people are watching on YouTube and even other digital platforms is not vetted by the CBFC,” Joshi said.
It is a common misconception, he said, that all content online has been vetted. “It’s just not fair to assume that just because something is on a digital platform, it has passed through the Censor Board. Many things you watch on OTT and YouTube have not even finished getting certified.”
Refusal on Jana Nayagan
And when asked how the case of the ongoing legal fight about Thalapathy Vijay’s Jana Nayagan which was reportedly denied certificate by the board played out, Joshi gave a hard line. He declined to elaborate on the situation, saying only that the case is now under a form of sub judice (with the courts to look into) and therefore not open to discussion in public.
The Complaints: Obscenity and Impact on Minors
The controversy was sparked after the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Women’s Wing in Karnataka lodged a formal complaint with the State Women’s Commission. Dinesh Kallahalli, a social activist, also reached out to the CBFC on Saturday, claiming the teaser includes "grossly obscene and sexually explicit" scenes that could harm the mental health of children and young adults.
This is because, in the particular scene that was placed under the scanner, the scene contains a bold sequence with Yash and a co-star being displayed in a car, which critics argue is just too extreme.
About 'Toxic'
Directed by the hugely celebrated Geetu Mohandas, 'Toxic' is a collaboration between KVN Productions and Yash’s firm Monster Mind Creations. The movie features an amazing pan-India ensemble cast:
Yash as 'Raya'. Nayanthara, Kiara Advani, and Rukmini Vasanth star in lead roles. Huma Qureshi and Tara Sutaria as major characters. The movie will likely be a worldwide blockbuster, released on March 19, 2026.
