Controversy Erupts Over Yash's 'Toxic Teaser': AAP Women’s Wing Files Complaint In Karnataka

Bengaluru: A political storm has hit the promotional campaign of 'Toxic: A Fairy Tale for Grown-Ups', the upcoming Kannada film starring Yash, after the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Women’s Wing lodged a formal grievance with the Karnataka State Women’s Commission on Monday.

The complaint focuses on what party leaders describe as "obscene visuals" in the film's teaser released earlier this month.

Why is the teaser under fire?

The teaser, which was unveiled on Yash’s 40th birthday on January 8, features highly stylised and dark visuals. One brief sequence showing Yash's character with a woman in a car has become the centre of the dispute.

AAP leaders say the scene is inappropriate, can harm the social well-being of women and children, and undermines cultural values. They object to its wide availability online without any age restrictions or content warnings.

"We believe this kind of content, accessible freely on public platforms, compromises the dignity of women," said AAP State Secretary Usha Mohan after filing the complaint.

The party has urged the Commission to push the state government to pull down the teaser and stop it from being shared on social media.

How are authorities responding?

The Karnataka State Women's Commission has officially received the complaint. It is expected to review the issue through its established procedures, though no decision on further action has been announced yet.

What do others say?

The teaser has already stirred debate across social media. Some users criticised the visuals for objectifying women, while others defended the creative expression or questioned whether the scene was necessary for a teaser.

Director Geetu Mohandas responded to online critics with a cryptic message on Instagram about female pleasure and consent, which itself drew mixed reactions.

"Chilling while people figure out female pleasure, consent, women playing systems, etc, etc." she wrote.

Supportive voices have also emerged. On January 8, filmmaker Ram Gopal Varma praised the teaser and the director’s bold vision, calling it a strong creative statement.

"After seeing the @TheNameIsYash starring trailer of #Toxic I have no doubt that @GeethuMohandas_ is the ultimate symbol of Women Empowerment ..No Male director is Man enough in comparison to this Woman .. I still can't believe she shot this," he wrote on X.

What's next for the film?

'Toxic', also featuring Nayanthara, Huma Qureshi, Kiara Advani and others, is slated for a March 19 theatrical release. It is poised for a box-office clash with another major film, 'Dhurandhar Part 2'.

The controversy adds pressure on the makers as they head into final promotional weeks, with public attention now focused as much on the debate as on the film itself.