After KGF, Yash's Toxic Opens Well in Hindi but Falters on Reviews
Yash's Toxic came after a long wait. KGF Chapter 1 and KGF Chapter 2 had turned him into a pan-India star, and this was his most anticipated film since those two blockbusters. Directed by Geetu Mohandas, it released on 26 August 2026.
The film received negative reviews from all sections of the audience. Critics, mass viewers, and people online did not like it. The writing was weak, the first half dragged, and the three-hour runtime was hard to sit through. Yash still had screen presence, but that was not enough to save the film.
Hindi Opened, Telugu Did Not
Toxic still collected around Rs 50 crore net in Hindi. Hindi-speaking states received the film better than the south. People turned up even after the reviews came out.
In the Telugu states, Ravi Teja's Irumudi, which released on 21 August, was already running packed when Toxic arrived. It had crossed Rs 100 crore worldwide in five days and was still holding well. In some centres in Telangana, audiences asked theatres to bring Irumudi shows back after they were replaced with Toxic. Toxic needed free screens and instead walked into theatres that were already full.
What RRR's Stars Could Not Do in Hindi
After RRR, NTR Jr and Ram Charan were expected to carry that pan-India interest into the Hindi belt with their next films. Devara and Game Changer did not manage it. Hindi audiences who had packed halls for RRR did not show the same interest.
Yash generated that anticipation without a sequel and without Rajamouli. Toxic had genuine pull in Tamil Nadu, the Hindi belt, and the Telugu regions. KGF had already made him a star outside Karnataka, and four years later people still wanted to see him. Advance bookings and the Hindi opening made that clear.
If the film had a better story, the opening he generated would have turned into a much bigger success.
Next: Ravana in Ramayana Part 1
Yash's immediate next release is Ramayana Part 1, where he plays Ravana. Nitesh Tiwari is directing, with Ranbir Kapoor as Rama. It is a Hindi-first film lined up for Diwali 2026. Playing Ravana on that scale could bring him even closer to Hindi-speaking audiences.
Yash has screen presence, and that was never in doubt. What he needs now is a better project with a bigger director. The Hindi belt has already shown it will come for him, so he has to pick the right film after this.