Yash defends ‘female gaze’ in Toxic amid backlash over sensual scenes, calls it ‘very new and refreshing’

Amid criticism surrounding the portrayal of intimacy in Toxic: A Fairy Tale for Grown-Ups, actor-producer Yash has come out in strong support of filmmaker Geetu Mohandas, crediting her for bringing a distinct “female gaze” to the action genre.Speaking to content creator Sabeen Faheem on the sidelines of CinemaCon, Yash underlined how rare it is to see a woman helming a large-scale gangster action film in India. “That’s the most exciting part. So what happens is that when you generally say action films, it’s only restricted to male directors. That’s been historically (true) in India. A lot of people have done that. A large-scale action film, that too a gangster film with a female gaze, is something which is very new and refreshing,” he said.He went on to highlight how working with Geetu differed from his experiences with male directors. “Thoughts are very clear, and she has a strong conviction in whatever she does. And she’s a fabulous writer. I could learn so much, you know. The desire quotient or certain emotions, romance or sensuality, how a female can show, a woman can present is entirely different is what I’ve realised in this journey,” Yash added.The film has been under scrutiny for its depiction of sensuality. While an earlier ‘birthday peek’ — featuring Yash walking into a casino with dancers and suggestive visuals — didn’t spark major outrage, the recently released ‘Introducing Raya’ video triggered criticism online.A particular scene involving a bomb, a car, and a cemetery drew sharp reactions, with many calling it excessive. The National Christian Federation also filed a formal complaint, citing “hurt sentiments.”Responding to the controversy, Geetu posted a cryptic note on Instagram: “Chilling while people figure out female pleasure, consent, women playing systems, etc etc.”Originally slated for a March 19 release alongside Dhurandhar: The Revenge, Toxic was postponed due to the West Asia conflict. The film is now scheduled to hit theatres on June 4.