A little over Rs 100 crore on opening day is the dream of many filmmakers, and Yash’s Toxic: A Fairy Tale for Grown-ups achieved that across six languages when it released on August 26.
But the box office picture changed quickly.
Directed by Geetu Mohandas, the action film reportedly ended its extended opening weekend at just over Rs 200 crore after witnessing a steep fall following its massive first day.
Exhibitor Raj Bansal said the drop on the second day itself was around 50-60 per cent.
“We didn’t expect the fall to be so huge. We were expecting the numbers to rise on Raksha Bandhan, but that didn’t happen,” Bansal said.
He also predicted that the Hindi version could fall to around Rs 5 crore on Monday and described Toxic as a potential major box office disappointment.
The film had been one of the most anticipated projects since Yash announced it in 2023. It also stars Nayanthara and Kiara Advani in important roles.
Exhibitor Akshaye Rathi, however, believes Yash’s stardom remains intact despite the film’s weak hold.
He pointed out that the teaser and songs had not received overwhelming appreciation before release, yet the film still managed to post a massive opening-day figure.
According to Rathi, that itself reflects Yash’s box office pull.
He said the fall after the first day had more to do with audience response to the content than with Yash’s popularity.
Rathi also dismissed rumours of corporate bookings and said the film’s theatrical run could wind down quickly if the current trend continues.
“I don’t see it continuing for long after this week,” he said.
So, while Toxic proved Yash’s ability to bring audiences to theatres on opening day, the sharp decline after that has shifted the focus entirely to the film’s content and staying power.