‘This is not the first time’: Kannada star Sanjjanaa Galrani reacts to criticism of Yash’s Toxic teaser | EXCLUSIVE
As criticism mounts against Yash's Toxic teaser, actor Sanjjanaa Galrani has called the backlash an "overreaction," urging viewers to see cinema purely as entertainment. Speaking exclusively, she weighed in on censorship, creative freedom and why she believes the controversy is being blown out of proportion.
Toxic teaser controversy: The teaser of Toxic, starring Yash, has landed in controversy days after its high-profile release. Unveiled on the actor’s 40th birthday on January 8, the teaser has drawn objections from the Women’s Wing of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), which has now approached the Karnataka State Women’s Commission seeking action.
According to the complaint, the teaser features visuals described as "obscene and explicit,” with the party arguing that such imagery harms the social well-being of women and children. The representation also claims the teaser undermines the cultural values associated with Kannada cinema and public morality. Directed by Geetu Mohandas, Toxic has been positioned as a dark, stylised project, but the women’s wing insists the imagery crosses acceptable limits.
Sanjjanaa Galrani reacts to Toxic controversy
Amid the growing debate, actor Sanjjanaa Galrani weighed in on the issue in an exclusive interaction with TV9 English. Sharing her perspective, she said, "We should look at entertainment as entertainment and with the benchmark going higher and higher with cult films in the country, that’s the only way the directors, producers and actors are able to survive.” She added, "Just look at entertainment as entertainment for this one time is what I feel.”
Sanjjanaa Galrani also addressed the intensity of the backlash, calling it an overreaction. "That’s there in so many films. This is not the first time. I think it’s a lot of overreaction going on. I don’t endorse it but as it’s not even an Indian woman in the video, I’m not feeling sentimental about it,” she said. Expressing pride in Yash’s journey, she added that his global reach is "a huge achievement for Karnataka as a whole.”
More about Toxic
As of now, neither Yash nor the makers of Toxic have issued an official response. The film, which also stars Tara Sutaria, Nayanthara, Huma Qureshi, Rukmini Vasanth and Kiara Advani, is slated for a worldwide theatrical release on March 19, 2026.