You could feel pain in his voice: Kannada actor on Yash's reaction to Toxic criticism

Kannada actor Jaidev Mohan, a close friend of Yash, who was involved in the Kannada dubbing of Toxic: A Fairy Tale for Grown-Ups, has opened up about the actor’s reaction to the film’s mixed response. Jaidev said that although Yash did not dwell on the criticism, the pain in his voice was evident when they spoke after the film’s release.Speaking to Prajavani, Jaidev recalled a phone conversation with Yash after Toxic hit theatres. Jaidev said he himself struggled to deal with the harsh criticism directed at the film, despite being only a small part of the project.“I haven't met him since the film's release. I've spoken over the phone with him twice. The day this film released, after seeing all the repercussions, I am only a small part of this film, and I couldn't take it. I took the harsh criticism to heart,” he said.According to Jaidev, Yash then called him and asked him not to take the criticism personally. “He said, ‘Don't take it to your heart, it's done, released, now let's leave it to the people. It's their choice. We made this film with dedication and gave it to the audience. That's it. You don't dwell on it too much. Get ready, there's more work. Got it? See you soon,’” Jaidev recalled.Jaidev stressed that he was quoting Yash’s words exactly and added that despite the actor’s composed response, it was possible to sense how deeply the film’s reception had affected him. “But you could feel the pain in his voice,” he said.For Jaidev, Toxic was not simply another film in Yash’s career. He said he had witnessed the project evolve from its earliest stages and had seen the actor invest himself in it over several years. “I have heard the story evolve from when it was just a seed. I've seen it evolve through various phases over the four and a half years until the final narration. He is the reason for that whole process. How hurt must he be,” he said.Toxic, directed by Geetu Mohandas and starring Yash, was released in theatres on August 26 after years of anticipation. While the film drew strong interest from Yash’s fan base and recorded a substantial opening, its reception was divided, with sections of the audience and critics questioning its narrative and execution. Jaidev, however, believes filmmakers have to accept the audience’s verdict once a film is released. “It's okay, with a pinch of grace we need to take it. At the end of the day, the audience is ultimate. If they like it, it's good; if not, it is not,” he said.He also rejected the idea that the makers could blame the audience for not understanding the film. “We've made a good film and the audience didn't understand, this theory is not ours. When we made the film for them, they will take it if they like it. It's okay,” Jaidev said.Toxic has collected nearly Rs 338 crore in 14 days, but its numbers have dropped drastically with no signs of recovery.- EndsPublished On: Sep 9, 2026 13:29 IST