Actor Yash’s eagerly awaited pan‑India film Toxic: A Fairy Tale for Grown‑Ups has become the centre of public scrutiny just weeks before its scheduled theatrical release on March 19, 2026. Renewed objections have surfaced, this time from religious groups concerned about alleged disrespectful representations of faith in the film’s promotional materials.
✝️ Religious Sentiments at Stake: National Christian Federation Files Complaint
A national religious body, the National Christian Federation (NCF), has formally lodged a complaint with government authorities and film regulators, asserting that visuals linked to the film Toxic are offensive to Christian beliefs. According to the complaint, certain clips in the teaser and other promotional content allegedly portray Saint Michael, an archangel revered in Christianity, in a negative or disrespectful manner.
The federation has demanded that:
The objectionable scenes be removed from the film and taken down from all online platforms.
The production team issue a public apology to the Christian community.
Authorities intervene before the film’s theatrical release, warning of legal action if their concerns are not addressed.
📉 Earlier Controversies: Women’s Groups & Regulatory Scrutiny
This is not the first time Toxic has sparked debate. Before the religious objections, activists and women’s organisations raised complaints arguing that visuals in the film’s teaser were sexually suggestive and potentially offensive — especially for younger audiences — and requested a review by commissions such as the Karnataka State Women’s Commission and the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC).
These earlier complaints allege that intimate scenes in the teaser might harm social values and could objectify women, adding further pressure on regulators to assess the content carefully.
🛂 Censor Board review & industry Response
With these multiple controversies unfolding, the film has not yet received its final certification from the CBFC. industry voices, including Dr. Jayamala, President of the Karnataka Film Chamber of Commerce, have urged the public not to rush to judgment based solely on teaser clips. She emphasized that:
A teaser is only a brief promotional glimpse, not the complete film.
Final decisions on the content will be made only after CBFC review and certification.
The filmmakers have denied allegations of disrespectful or obscene content.
Dr. jayamala also argued that filmmakers generally respect cultural and religious diversity and that rushed assumptions without seeing the full film could be misleading.
⚖️ What Happens Next?
With Toxic still awaiting censor board clearance, regulatory authorities are likely to review all objections — both from religious bodies and social activists — before issuing a final certificate necessary for theatrical release. How the board addresses these complaints, and whether edits will be requested, remains to be seen in the coming weeks.
📅 Film Release & Broader Context
Despite the controversies, Toxic continues to be one of the most anticipated indian films of 2026, partly due to its ensemble cast and the pan‑India scale of the project. The film is directed by Geetu Mohandas and stars yash alongside an ensemble cast, with dubbed versions planned in multiple indian languages.
The outcome of the censor review and public debate may influence its release environment, but audiences will ultimately judge the film when it reaches cinemas on March 19, 2026, across India.
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