Yash’s upcoming action drama Toxic: A Fairy Tale for Grown-Ups has taken the box office by storm even before its theatrical release. The film’s advance booking numbers have crossed an impressive ₹32 crore mark, with over 6 lakh tickets already sold across India. This strong pre-sales performance shows the massive audience excitement for the Kannada superstar’s return to the big screen after the massive success of KGF: Chapter 2.
The film, directed by Geetu Mohandas, is scheduled to arrive in cinemas on August 26, 2026. With two days still left before release, the advance booking numbers are expected to climb even higher as more shows become available for booking.
Advance Booking Numbers Cross ₹32 Crore Mark
According to data from industry tracker Sacnilk, Toxic has recorded an all-India gross of ₹24.27 crore in direct advance sales. When including blocked seats, the total jumps to ₹32.52 crore. The film has sold more than 6.4 lakh tickets across 14,104 shows so far.
The advance booking without blocked seats stands at ₹23.91 crore. Trade experts believe the film could add a few more crores to its total before release, though reaching the ₹100 crore mark in pre-sales appears unlikely at the current pace.
Karnataka and Hindi Versions Lead the Charge
The Kannada version continues to drive the strongest demand, with Bengaluru alone contributing ₹9.64 crore. Karnataka as a whole has recorded ₹15.51 crore across languages, making it the biggest contributor to the film’s pre-release business.
The Hindi version is also off to a strong start, with pre-sales going past ₹11 crore. The Hindi 2D version has collected ₹11.06 crore from 3.33 lakh tickets, while the Kannada version has earned ₹10.99 crore from 2.64 lakh tickets. The Hindi and Kannada markets are almost neck-and-neck when it comes to the gross.
Other regional versions have also contributed to the total. The Telugu, Tamil and Malayalam versions have together sold more than 42,000 tickets.
Mumbai Theatres Add Early Morning and Late Night Shows
The response has been strong enough for exhibitors to add more shows to meet the growing demand. Mumbai is seeing especially heavy interest, with some theatres starting screenings as early as 6:00 am and running shows till 11:45 pm and even 11:59 pm.
Ticket prices have also gone up at several premium properties. In parts of Mumbai and Bengaluru, the most expensive tickets are reportedly going for as much as ₹2,250.
Toxic Trails Behind KGF: Chapter 2 Advance Booking
Despite the strong pre-sales, Toxic is still behind Yash’s previous blockbuster, KGF: Chapter 2. The 2022 film reportedly generated around ₹60 crore through advance sales before its release, making it the bigger benchmark for the actor.
KGF: Chapter 2 recorded more than ₹80 crore in final Day 1 advances across India, including around ₹40 crore net from Hindi alone. The sequel benefited from enormous sequel anticipation, while Toxic is emerging as a major star-driven standalone release.
Toxic Beats Jana Nayagan, Becomes 2026’s Second-Highest Advance Booking Film
Toxic has already made history by surpassing Jana Nayagan for the second-highest opening-day booking in 2026 among Indian films. Jana Nayagan had ₹22.26 crore in opening-day advances. Toxic now trails only behind Dhurandhar 2, which stands at ₹53 crore.
The film’s pre-sales are being driven mainly by its Hindi and Kannada versions. In the US, early pre-sales have crossed $146,251.
State-wise Advance Booking Breakdown
Karnataka remains the film’s strongest domestic market, contributing more than ₹10.69 crore across over 1,740 shows. The state has also recorded 742 nearly full shows, highlighting the strong anticipation for Yash’s return to the big screen.
Maharashtra follows with ₹2.99 crore, while Delhi has contributed ₹2.09 crore. Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal have recorded ₹1.62 crore and ₹1.60 crore respectively. The lowest advance of ₹800 is recorded in Sikkim.
Gujarat has the highest number of allocated shows at 2,319, followed by Maharashtra with 2,189.
Yash Returns in a Dual Role
Toxic marks Yash’s return to the big screen, with the actor taking on a dual role as Raya and Ticket. The film features a strong ensemble cast, including Kiara Advani, Nayanthara, Tara Sutaria, Huma Qureshi and Rukmini Vasanth.
The film has received an A certificate from the CBFC and is set to release in Kannada, Hindi, Tamil, Telugu and Malayalam. It is also gearing up for a massive worldwide release, with the film expected to hit around 12,000 screens.
Film’s Plot and Director
Directed by Geetu Mohandas, the crime action drama is set in a post-independence Goa. The official plot summary reads: “A gangster navigates the complexities of loyalty, morality, and the struggle for personal redemption in a post-independence Goa where violence and jealousy reign. With its atmospheric world, brutal action sequences, and morally conflicted characters, the film explores the price one must pay for love and for finding redemption amidst the darkness”.
Yash Addresses Criticism About Women Characters
At the pre-release event on Saturday, Yash addressed the crowd about the criticism towards the characters of women in the trailer. He said:
“Society… they may say, they may not accept it but the point is everybody will look upon you. I am not respected for my money, I am respected for my work, and I know the director will prove that every woman and every girl can face every kind of situation, express their thoughts, express their vision and succeed in this society”.
He further urged girls to watch the film in theatres, saying, “There’s a voice for women in this film, unlike how it is coming across in the trailer. Watch the movie and enjoy. All you girls, you will have a blast”.
What the Advance Booking Numbers Mean
With ₹32.52 crore already on the board including blocked seats, Toxic has built a hefty advance ahead of its opening. Trade analysts believe the film could challenge the ₹100 crore mark globally on its opening day. However, the advance booking pace is still below KGF: Chapter 2, which remains the bigger benchmark for the actor.
The film’s current advance is also behind the pre-release pace of Yash’s KGF: Chapter 2. Toxic, nevertheless, has built a hefty advance ahead of its opening, with Karnataka accounting for ₹15.51 crore across languages.
With two days still to go before release, the film is expected to see further growth, although hitting the ₹100-crore mark in pre-sales appears unlikely at the current pace. Trade, however, is keeping an eye on a possible late surge, particularly in Karnataka.
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Toxic’s Release Date and Availability
Toxic: A Fairy Tale for Grown-Ups is scheduled to release on August 26, 2026 in theatres worldwide. The film will be available in Kannada, Hindi, Tamil, Telugu and Malayalam languages. With advance bookings already showing strong momentum, all eyes are now on the film’s opening-day performance.
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