Amidst criticism over the portrayal of intimacy in Toxic: A Fairy Tale for Grown-Ups, actor-producer Yash has expressed strong support for filmmaker Geetu Mohandas for bringing a distinctive “female gaze” to the action genre.Speaking to content creator Sabeen Faheem on the sidelines of CinemaCon, Yash emphasized how rare it is to see a woman helming a large-scale action film in India. “That’s the most exciting part. So what happens is that generally when you say action films, it’s limited to only male directors. That’s been historically (true) in India. A lot of people have done that. A large-scale action film, even a female-led gangster film, is something very new and refreshing,” he said.She highlighted how working with Geetu is different from her experience with male directors. “The thoughts are very clear, and she has a strong conviction in everything she does. And she is a fabulous writer. I could learn so much, you know. Desire quotient or certain emotions, love or sensuality, how a woman can show, a woman can present is completely different what I realized on this trip,” added Yash.
Backlash to the ‘Introducing Raya’ video
The film has been scrutinized for its portrayal of sensuality. While an earlier “birthday look” — which featured Yash entering a casino with dancers and suggestive visuals — didn’t spark much outrage, the newly released video “Introducing Raya” drew criticism online.One particular scene involving a bomb, a car and a cemetery drew sharp reactions, which many considered excessive. The National Christian Federation also filed a formal complaint, citing “hurt feelings.”Responding to the controversy, Geetu posted a cryptic note on Instagram: “It’s chilling as people figure out female pleasure, consent, female gaming systems, etc….”
The layoff has been promoted amid delays
Originally slated to release on March 19 alongside Dhurandhar: The Revenge, Toxic was delayed due to the conflict in West Asia. The film will be released in theaters on June 4.
