HYDERABAD — Following weeks of online speculation regarding the directorial control of the recently released action drama Toxic, co-star Sudev Nair has firmly dismissed reports alleging that superstar Yash took over the film’s direction from filmmaker Geethu Mohandas.
Rumours had been circulating across social media platforms claiming that Yash had stepped in as a shadow director during the production of Toxic, with some reports even suggesting that the project was temporarily shelved due to creative differences between the lead actor and the director.
Refuting these claims, Nair—who portrays the character Karmadi in the film—clarified that Geethu Mohandas was the sole director on set and maintained complete creative authority throughout the entire shoot.
"None of those rumours are true," Nair said during a recent interview with a digital publication. "This film is completely the vision of director Geetu Mohandas. It was something someone made up during a break in the schedule. I also heard that the film had been shelved and that Yash was doing shadow direction, but I did not believe it. This was created simply to spread negativity. Whenever I was on set, Geetu was the one directing every single scene."
Nair also took the opportunity to praise Yash, describing the KGF star as a dedicated professional who respected the division of roles on set rather than interfering with the creative process.
"Yash never interferes with the direction," Nair added. "He is a true 'director’s actor' who follows instructions closely. He was always extremely curious to know whether specific takes were satisfactory. That level of dedication shows his respect for the craft."
Directed by acclaimed filmmaker Geethu Mohandas, known for Moothon, Toxic marks Yash’s 19th feature film and his high-profile return to the silver screen following his blockbuster success with the KGF franchise. The film boasts an ensemble cast including Nayanthara, Kiara Advani, Huma Qureshi, and Rukmini Vasanth.
Released globally in multiple languages including Kannada, English, Hindi, Telugu, Tamil, and Malayalam, Toxic recorded a massive opening-day collection of ₹101.10 crore net in India, though box office momentum faced mixed audience reactions in the subsequent days.
