Amid Controversy Over ‘Toxic’, Kiara Responds: Audiences Ultimately Remember the Story

Staff Report | PNN

The much-awaited Kannada film ‘Toxic: A Fairy Tale for Grown-Ups’, starring superstar Yash, has been surrounded by controversy even before its release. Discussions and criticism have intensified on social media over the portrayal of women in the film, the presence of female characters in promotional campaigns, and the recently released song ‘Tabahi’.

Amid the debate, actress Kiara Advani has spoken in support of the film.

According to Kiara, star power may bring audiences to theatres, but a movie’s long-term connection with viewers is created through the strength of its story and the honesty of its execution.

In a recent interview with Femina, Kiara said that playing the character Nadia in ‘Toxic’ has been one of the most complete and challenging experiences of her career. She said she was immediately impressed by the depth and complexity of the role when director Geetu Mohandas first explained the character to her.

Kiara described Nadia as a character filled with multiple emotions, including strength and vulnerability, passion and loneliness, sensitivity and complexity. She said the role gave her the opportunity to explore many emotional layers she had been looking for as an actress.

The actress said that at this stage of her career, she has gained the confidence to take on such complex characters. She believes that the preparation before filming begins is more important than the actual performance in front of the camera.

Kiara explained that she spends significant time understanding a character’s emotions, relationships, fears, and motivations. She then works on body language, voice, clothing, and movement style. While audiences only see the final performance, the long preparation process behind it often remains unseen.

She added that bringing Nadia to life on screen renewed her love for acting. According to her, every character carries a part of the actor’s personality while also adding new experiences and understanding to the actor’s life.

However, despite Kiara’s positive experience, controversy surrounding the film has continued for months. Criticism began after the release of the first teaser in late 2025, particularly over suggestive scenes filmed in a cemetery. Later, in January this year, the Karnataka State Women’s Commission sent a letter to the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC), claiming that some scenes could negatively affect the social well-being of women and children.

On July 1, the makers released the second teaser titled ‘Ladies and Ladies’, aimed at introducing the female characters of the movie. However, criticism continued, with some viewers claiming that Yash remains the main focus of the promotional campaign and female characters have not received enough importance.

Kiara disagreed with such criticism. She said every female character in the movie has been created with unique qualities and individual strength.

Speaking about working with Nayanthara, Huma Qureshi, Tara Sutaria, and Rukmini Vasanth, Kiara said each actress brings a distinct identity and strength to the screen. She expressed hope that audiences would appreciate the variety of female characters in the film.

Directed by Geetu Mohandas, ‘Toxic’ features Yash in a dual role along with Kiara Advani, Nayanthara, Huma Qureshi, Tara Sutaria, and Rukmini Vasanth.

Produced by KVN Productions and Monster Mind Creations, the film was shot in Kannada and English and is planned for release in Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, and Malayalam as well.