At once "the Rocking Star," the Indian film actor Yash has once more proved that while he is flying high on such a high stage, his roots are firmly planted on soil across the Indian hinterland known as Kannada. On his 40th birthday, January 8, 2026, a video of him singing the famous track "Geethanjali Pushpanjali" from the legendary Shankar Nag’s movie C.B.I. Shankar spread virality in several social media channels.
The video shows Yash at a jolly, energetic party, intoning the lyrics of the Hamsalekha classic. Although fans are unsure if it's coming from a recently celebrated birthday or a much older exclusive gathering, the sentiment is still clear: Yash’s love for the late Shankar Nag is unchallenged.
This is so far not the first time Yash has paid respect to the 'Autoraja': He famously donned a Shankar Nag-worthy ensemble in his hit film Googly, making him a staunchly minded fan. Yash’s vision: Taking Kannada to the World. Besides the viral singing, the video has rekindled conversations about Yash’s never-ending dedication to the Kannada language and craft.
Yash has advocated for Karnataka to be filled with international talent with KGF franchises going global since their inception, rather than migrating abroad. As a testament to this philosophy he has a forthcoming project, Toxic: A Fairy Tale for Grown-Ups. About the film: Directed by Geetu Mohandas, it is a sprawling collaboration with the following features:
Global Technicians: Hollywood action choreographer J.J. Perry (John Wick) has been enlisted for epic numbers. Star-studded cast: Nayanthara, Kiara Advani, Tara Sutaria, Huma Qureshi, Rukmini Vasanth all starred in the movie
Local Roots: Despite the global scope, production means this film will be made at KVN Productions and Yash's own Monster Mind Creations so that Sandalwood remains Yash's creative home. The ‘Raya’ reveal and the mystery look. At the time of his birthday, it was at this moment that the makers put out a strong glimpse into Yash’s character, Raya; Toxic.
The teaser, which fans have characterized as having a “pure Hollywood vibe” features Yash swathing in a gut-wrenching, raw avatar. Surprisingly, the viral singing video shows Yash in his more familiar, older guise, while recent sightings in Mumbai imply that the actor had undergone a dramatic transformation for Toxic. Yash has been seen, just recently, wearing a scarf to cover his face and head when he shows his "new look" to the paparazzi. This indicates that the performance video does indeed capture the nostalgic Yash feel, but that the actor is now completely immersed in the grimy life of Raya. **What Comes Next for the Rocking Star?**
With Toxic slated for theatrical release March 19, 2026, Yash has told fans they may be advised that they have to take it slow. In a recent note, he informed us that he is only focused on finishing the film, which is the reason he chose a low-key birthday and no big public fan meet this year. However, the "Geethanjali" video reminds me of that, and the "Yash Boss" craze has absolutely no brakes.
