Yash’s much-awaited film Toxic has made a strong start at the box office despite receiving largely negative and mixed reviews from early viewers and critics.
The action drama, directed by Geetu Mohandas, marks Yash’s return to the big screen after four years. The actor, who became a pan-India star through the KGF franchise, plays a dual role in the film. The cast also includes Kiara Advani, Nayanthara, Tara Sutaria, Rukmini Vasanth and Huma Qureshi.
According to the latest figures cited by Hindustan Times, Toxic had earned around ₹71 crore net in India by 5 PM on its opening day. Earlier in the day, the film had crossed ₹61 crore by 4 PM, moving ahead of the opening-day collections of Shah Rukh Khan’s Pathaan.
The film had already generated significant buzz before its release. Its makers claimed that advance bookings for the first day had reached ₹100 crore worldwide, including around ₹58 crore from India, or ₹73 crore when block seats were included.
Online ticket sales have also been strong. The makers announced that more than 30 lakh tickets had been sold through major ticketing platforms, with two million tickets reportedly sold through BookMyShow and another one million through District.
However, the strong commercial opening has come alongside criticism of the film. Several early reviews have questioned its screenplay, editing and second-half narrative. Some viewers have also criticised the film for its heavy action, loud background score and violent sequences.
At the same time, the film has received some positive reactions, particularly for Yash’s performance and its action sequences. One section of the audience has praised the emotional elements and the climax, suggesting that the second half works better than the first.
Toxic has reportedly received one of the widest releases for an Indian film, with around 12,000 screens worldwide. The Hindi version alone is said to have secured nearly 5,000 screens in India.
The film is set against the backdrop of Goa during the years before its liberation from Portuguese rule. Its story revolves around power, betrayal, violence, loyalty and redemption.
With evening and night shows still remaining on its opening day, Toxic is expected to add significantly to its first-day total. The bigger challenge will be whether strong audience turnout can continue after the initial fan-driven response and overcome the divided critical reception.
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