Bengaluru: Rocking Star Yash’s much-awaited Toxic: A Fairy Tale for Grown-Ups is set to create a special record in Bengaluru’s Gandhinagar area, with the film releasing simultaneously at four prominent theatres from 6 am on August 26. The Geetu Mohandas directorial, which marks Yash’s return to the big screen after KGF: Chapter 2, is gearing up for a massive worldwide theatrical release.

The four theatres in Gandhinagar — Santosha, Nartaki, Triveni and Anupama — will screen Toxic on its opening day. The simultaneous release at these four theatres close to the Majestic area is being highlighted as a notable first for a Kannada star, according to the report.

Toxic to begin Bengaluru shows at 6 am

The early-morning shows are among the biggest attractions for Yash fans in Karnataka. Toxic will begin its Bengaluru screenings from 6 am on August 26, giving audiences an opportunity to watch the film on the first day itself.

The film is also expected to have a substantial theatrical presence across Karnataka. According to the latest report, Toxic is scheduled to be screened across around 350 single-screen theatres and 280 multiplex screens in the state. The overall count is therefore expected to cross 500 theatres in Karnataka, underlining the scale of the release.

The extensive screening plan comes at a time when advance bookings for the film are already showing strong momentum. Yash’s popularity in Karnataka, combined with the anticipation surrounding his first major theatrical release after the KGF franchise, has helped drive demand ahead of the opening day.

Four Gandhinagar theatres to screen Toxic

The simultaneous release at Santosha, Nartaki, Triveni and Anupama is particularly significant because Gandhinagar is one of Bengaluru’s traditional cinema hubs. The area around Majestic has historically been closely associated with Kannada cinema and major-star releases.

Having a Yash film release at four major theatres in the locality at the same time gives Toxic a strong presence in one of Bengaluru’s most recognisable cinema districts.

The report describes this as a new milestone for Yash, noting that a Kannada star’s film had not previously achieved the same simultaneous four-theatre release in the Gandhinagar area.

The development is also symbolic of how the scale of Kannada cinema has expanded over the years. Yash’s KGF films played an important role in taking Kannada-language cinema to audiences across India, and Toxic is now attempting to build on that reach with a much larger international release.

Karnataka expected to deliver a strong opening

Karnataka is likely to remain one of the most important markets for Toxic. The film’s advance booking performance has already indicated considerable interest in Yash’s home state.

According to the latest report, the first-day tickets in Karnataka were reported to be sold out across theatres, with trade calculations estimating a potential opening-day collection of around ₹25 crore to ₹30 crore from the state. These figures are estimates based on ticket prices, show counts and reported bookings, rather than final producer-reported collections.

The reported average ticket price is around ₹225 for single-screen theatres and approximately ₹500 for multiplexes in Karnataka. The report also estimates that individual theatres could conduct multiple shows during the day, while multiplexes may schedule considerably more screenings.

However, these calculations should not be treated as confirmed box-office figures until the film’s official collection data is released. Actual earnings can vary depending on occupancy, ticket categories, taxes, cancellations and the final number of shows.

Toxic targets a massive worldwide release

Beyond Karnataka, Toxic is being positioned as a large-scale global release. The latest report states that the film is expected to reach more than 12,000 screens worldwide, while its India release is estimated at over 5,500 screens.

The scale reflects the transformation in Yash’s market following the KGF franchise. While KGF: Chapter 1 established him as a major Kannada star, KGF: Chapter 2 significantly expanded his recognition across India and overseas.

Toxic is now expected to take that audience reach further. The film has been planned as a multilingual release, with audiences in different Indian markets able to experience Yash’s latest project beyond its original Kannada base. Recent reports also note strong pre-release interest and advance bookings ahead of the August 26 release.

Yash returns with Geetu Mohandas’ Toxic

Toxic: A Fairy Tale for Grown-Ups is directed by Geetu Mohandas, with Yash leading the cast. The film also features Kiara Advani, Nayanthara, Huma Qureshi, Tara Sutaria and Rukmini Vasanth in important roles.

The project has generated interest not only because of Yash’s presence but also because of Mohandas’ decision to approach the gangster genre with a distinctive visual and narrative style.

The film has received an A certificate from the Central Board of Film Certification, restricting theatrical admission to adult audiences. It is also reported to have a runtime of more than three hours, making it one of the major theatrical releases being closely watched ahead of its opening.

Yash has also addressed criticism surrounding the portrayal of women in the film, maintaining that the trailers do not reveal the complete narrative and asking audiences to judge the film after watching it.

Strong advance bookings add to opening-day expectations

The special screening arrangements in Bengaluru come against the backdrop of strong advance sales for Toxic. Earlier reports had already indicated that the film had crossed ₹30 crore in advance bookings in India, with Karnataka leading the pre-sales.

By August 25, other trade reports were putting the Day 1 advance gross above ₹40 crore, with more than 9 lakh tickets sold. The figures have varied according to the timing of the updates and whether blocked seats are included, but the broader trend points to strong demand before release.

Premium ticket prices have also attracted attention. Reports indicate that ticket prices for some screenings in Bengaluru have crossed ₹3,600, reflecting the demand for premium formats and select high-end shows.

The advance response has therefore set up considerable expectations for the film’s opening day. The actual theatrical performance, however, will depend on occupancy across different regions, walk-in audiences and the number of additional shows added after release.

Why the Gandhinagar release matters

The simultaneous release at four Gandhinagar theatres is more than just a scheduling detail for Yash fans. Gandhinagar has long been associated with Bengaluru’s cinema culture, and major releases at its theatres often carry symbolic importance for Kannada film audiences.

For Toxic, the four-theatre opening also underlines the confidence surrounding the film in Karnataka. The early 6 am shows, extensive theatre count and reported advance sales together indicate that exhibitors are preparing for a major opening.

At the same time, the film’s performance outside Karnataka will be crucial. Yash’s post-KGF popularity has given him a national audience, and Toxic will need to convert that recognition into strong footfalls across multiple language markets.

Conclusion

Toxic is set to make a strong theatrical entry in Bengaluru, with four prominent Gandhinagar theatres — Santosha, Nartaki, Triveni and Anupama — scheduled to screen the film from 6 am on August 26. The release is part of a much larger Karnataka and global rollout, with the film expected to play in more than 500 theatres across the state and over 12,000 screens worldwide, according to the latest report.

With strong advance bookings, early-morning shows and an extensive screen count, Yash’s return to theatres is already shaping up as a major event for Kannada cinema. The final box-office numbers will reveal whether the enormous pre-release momentum translates into a record-breaking opening for Toxic.