RGV stirs debate after ‘Toxic’ teaser, calls Geetu Mohandas the true face of women empowerment

Filmmaker Ram Gopal Varma hails Geetu Mohandas as the ultimate symbol of women empowerment after the record-breaking teaser of Toxic: A Fairytale for Grown-Ups, starring Rocking Star Yash, takes the industry by storm.

Veteran filmmaker Ram Gopal Varma has triggered a major discussion on social media after reacting strongly to the teaser of “Toxic: A Fairytale for Grown-Ups”, starring Rocking Star Yash. Posting on X, Varma said that “no male director is man enough”, a statement he later clarified was inspired purely by the impact of the Toxic teaser.

Varma credited director Geetu Mohandas, calling her the ultimate example of women empowerment, stating that the confidence, scale and boldness of the teaser redefined cinematic storytelling. His reaction came soon after watching the teaser, which released on January 8, coinciding with Yash’s birthday.

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 👇🏻 😳 https://t.co/ZxyxU8Da40pic.twitter.com/qzFUcv9JIb

— Ram Gopal Varma (@RGVzoomin) January 8, 2026

The teaser instantly created massive buzz across the Indian film industry. Packed with stylised violence and high-end visuals, it opens with Yash in an intense sequence inside a car, followed by him gunning down multiple men. The teaser sharply divided opinion online, but its impact was undeniable, with fans widely comparing its treatment and scale to Hollywood action films.

Within hours of release, the teaser shattered digital records, dominating social media conversations nationwide. Industry insiders noted that the teaser alone placed Toxic among the most anticipated Indian films of the year.

Directed by Geetu Mohandas and co-written by Yash and Geetu, Toxic marks Yash’s 19th film as a lead actor. The film presents him in a bold gangster avatar, a striking departure that has further fuelled excitement.

Also Read:‘Toxic’ glimpse creates record-breaking buzz, ‘Dhurandhar 2’ release under question

The ensemble cast includes Rukmini Vasanth, Nayanthara, Kiara Advani, Tara Sutaria, Huma Qureshi, Akshay Oberoi and Sudev Nair, adding to the film’s scale and pan-Indian appeal.

Toxic: A Fairytale for Grown-Ups is officially scheduled to release in theatres on March 19. Interestingly, the same date has been announced for the release of ‘Dhurandhar 2’. However, following the overwhelming response to the Toxic teaser, speculation has surfaced on social media that Dhurandhar 2’s release date may be reconsidered or postponed, though no official confirmation has been made so far.

With the teaser already making global noise and praise coming from filmmakers like Ram Gopal Varma, Toxic has firmly positioned itself as one of the most talked-about films in Indian cinema this year.

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