Yash’s much-awaited film Toxic: A Fairytale for Grown-Ups finally hit theatres on August 26, 2026. But instead of celebrating the release, the film found itself at the center of a social media storm. While audiences and critics shared mixed reactions to the Geetu Mohandas directorial, filmmaker Ram Gopal Varma added fuel to the fire with a cryptic post that many believe was a direct dig at the film .
The controversy began when Varma posted on X (formerly Twitter): “Now watching #Dhurandhar again,” without any further explanation. The timing of the post—on the very day Toxic released to lukewarm reviews—led netizens to interpret it as a subtle jab at Yash’s film.
The Post That Started It All
Ram Gopal Varma, known for his unfiltered opinions, has been a vocal supporter of Ranveer Singh’s Dhurandhar since its release. On the evening of Toxic‘s theatrical debut, he took to X with a simple message: “Now watching #Dhurandhar again.”
He did not mention Toxic or Yash anywhere in his post. But the internet quickly connected the dots. With Toxic receiving negative reviews throughout the day, many saw Varma’s post as a clever way of saying he would rather re-watch Dhurandhar than watch Yash’s new film .
One user summed it up perfectly, commenting: “Bro roasted toxic without naming it.”
Why Did Fans Think It Was a Dig?
The speculation did not come out of nowhere. Ram Gopal Varma has a history of comparing Dhurandhar and Toxic. Long before this post, he had openly shared his thoughts on the two films.
Back in February 2026, when both films were scheduled for a box office clash, Varma wrote a lengthy post on X. He said: “The principal difference between the two is that #Dhurandhar respects the audience’s intelligence and #Toxic presumes their dumbness.”
He also described Toxic as a film where “the protagonist is born bulletproof” and said its story “bends backwards to protect his ‘ultra-cool factor’.”
Given this history, fans believed his latest post was another chapter in his ongoing criticism of Yash’s film.
Internet Reacts: Jokes, Criticism, and Defenses
Varma’s post triggered a flood of reactions on social media. The comment section quickly turned into a battlefield between those who found his post hilarious and those who called it disrespectful.
Those Who Laughed
Many users appreciated Varma’s sense of timing. One user joked: “Bro is more toxic than #toxic.”
Another wrote: “I understood TOXIC is like DHURANDHAR? / watching DHURANDHAR is best than watching TOXIC.”
A third user added: “And imagine they were about clash against this movie. Yash is actually clever. He knew dhurandhar gonna trash this film left right centre everywhere.”
Some even thanked the filmmaker for saving his time. A comment read: “Sirji, if #Toxic is already giving disaster vibes, saving your time and watching #Dhurandhar again.”
Those Who Criticized
Not everyone was amused. Several netizens slammed Varma for what they saw as unnecessary trolling of another filmmaker’s hard work.
One user wrote: “Can understand the audience reacting like that. But at least have some manner to respect someone’s hard work and craft as a filmmaker like you lol.”
A fan from Karnataka expressed disappointment: “Sir actually I am from Karnataka and i am a huge fan of you since sarkar, rann, raktacharitra.. But couldnt expected from you such a great filmmaker doing unnecessary things.. Thank you sir.”
Another user called the post “rage-baiting for Geethu Mohandas.”
Ram Gopal Varma’s History With ‘Toxic’ and ‘Dhurandhar’
This is not the first time Varma has weighed in on the rivalry between the two films. He has been a vocal supporter of Dhurandhar from the very beginning.
In January 2026, he wrote on X: “DHURANDHAR 2’s BITE will be TOXIC.”
Later that month, after watching the Toxic teaser, he praised director Geetu Mohandas. He wrote: “After seeing the @TheNameIsYash starring trailer of #Toxic I have no doubt that @GeethuMohandas_ is the ultimate symbol of Women Empowerment… No Male director is Man enough in comparison to this Woman. I still can’t believe she shot this.”
But despite that initial praise, his later comments were far from complimentary. He described the clash between Dhurandhar 2 and Toxic as a battle between “ultra-realistic cinema and ultra-unrealistic cinema.”
He also said: “D respects grim reality. T sells fantasy dressed as seriousness.”
About ‘Toxic: A Fairytale for Grown-Ups’
Directed by Geetu Mohandas, Toxic is a period gangster action drama set in Goa during the Portuguese rule . Yash plays a dual role in the film . The ensemble cast includes Kiara Advani, Nayanthara, Huma Qureshi, Tara Sutaria, and Rukmini Vasanth .
The film was originally scheduled to release on March 19, 2026, the same day as Dhurandhar: The Revenge . However, the makers postponed the release due to conflicts in the West Asian region, which affected film releases in the Middle East . This delay averted a massive box office clash .
Despite the postponement, the film arrived with high expectations. But the response was far from what many anticipated. Critics described it as a “soulless nightmare” and “torture” due to its chaotic writing, lengthy runtime, and lack of coherent storytelling . Viewers also noted that the film fails to provide strong character introductions and has an erratic screenplay .
What Critics Said About ‘Toxic’
The reviews for Toxic were largely negative. A Hindustan Times review called it a “soulless nightmare, a sensory overload that tests your patience” .
Another critic pointed out that the dialogues “repeatedly reduce women to objects of male desire or possession, and often tip into cringe-inducing machismo.”
While some praised Yash’s performance and the stylised visuals, the weak screenplay and chaotic narrative held the film back . The film’s intimate scenes with Kiara Advani and Beatriz Taufenbach also faced online criticism, with viewers questioning their relevance to the plot .
The Bigger Picture: A Clash of Cinematic Cultures
The debate around Varma’s post goes beyond a single tweet. It reflects a larger conversation about the kind of cinema Indian audiences want.
In February 2026, Varma described the box office clash between Dhurandhar and Toxic as a “brutal clash of cultures.” He argued that Dhurandhar places faith in the audience’s intelligence, while Toxic, in his opinion, assumes their foolishness .
He also said: “Mindless hero worship VERSUS… He also criticized Toxic for its high budget spent on ‘VFX fireworks’ and ‘eyesore sets’.”
This view resonated with many on social media. One user commented: “Thank God Toxic wasn’t released against Dhurandhar. Would’ve been a huge failure.”
Another wrote: “People after watching #Toxic will watch #Dhurandhar again.”
Mixed Reactions: Was It Fair?
While many found Varma’s post entertaining, others questioned his motives. Some described it as “rage-baiting” —a deliberate attempt to provoke a reaction .
A user wrote: “This is called rage-baiting for Geethu Mohandas.”
Another said: “This hurts without even mentioning anything.”
The criticism also came from within the film fraternity. One comment read: “At least respect your colleague’s work… You are a director; at least you should know the difference between Dhurandhar and Toxic.”
Varma, however, did not respond to the criticism. He has not clarified whether his post was indeed a dig at Toxic or simply a genuine expression of his love for Dhurandhar .
What This Means for Yash and ‘Toxic’
The negative reviews and social media backlash have put Toxic in a difficult position. Despite the massive buzz surrounding its release, the film has failed to win over critics and many viewers .
However, it is worth noting that the film still performed well at the box office. Early reports suggested that Toxic crossed the Rs 79 crore mark on its opening day . Some reports even claimed it crossed Rs 90 crore .
But the debate around Varma’s post has shifted the conversation away from the film’s box office numbers to its quality. Whether the controversy will affect the film’s long-term performance remains to be seen.
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Ram Gopal Varma’s cryptic post has once again proven his ability to spark conversation with just a few words. While some see it as a harmless joke, others view it as unnecessary trolling.
What is clear is that the debate around Toxic and Dhurandhar is far from over. The two films represent different approaches to storytelling, and audiences will continue to compare them.
For now, Varma has made his choice clear. He is watching Dhurandhar again. And the internet has plenty to say about it.
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