Yash’s much-awaited film Toxic: A Fairy Tale for Grown-Ups hit theatres on August 26 and has been making headlines for both its box-office performance and controversial content. While the film received mixed reactions from audiences and critics, a fresh controversy has now emerged after Yash’s mother, Pushpa Arun Kumar, appeared to take a subtle dig at veteran producer Allu Aravind’s earlier comment questioning, “Who was Yash before KGF?”
Speaking at a recent press meet, Yash’s mother strongly defended her son and highlighted his journey in the film industry. She pointed out that Yash had already delivered five consecutive hits before KGF. She also stressed that he came from a humble background and built his career through his own hard work. Calling him “the son of a bus driver,” she said she was proud of everything he had achieved.
The remark traces back to 2023, when Allu Aravind, father of actor Allu Arjun, discussed the success of the KGF franchise and questioned Yash’s identity and popularity before the film series. He also credited the film’s massive scale and production value for a significant part of its success. The old comment resurfaced recently after Yash addressed it during an appearance on Aap Ki Adalat with Rajat Sharma.
Responding to the question, Yash said that the success of a film cannot be credited to just one person. He acknowledged the contribution of producers, writers, supporting actors and the entire team, while also noting that the lead actor has the responsibility of carrying the vision created for him. Yash also praised audiences for recognising quality content and strong performances.
Meanwhile, Toxic, directed by Geetu Mohandas and produced by Venkat K. Narayana and Yash, features Nayanthara, Huma Qureshi, Kiara Advani, Tara Sutaria and Rukmini Vasanth. The film, made in Kannada and English and dubbed into multiple Indian languages, has generated considerable discussion online. After five days, Toxic reportedly crossed the ₹200-crore mark in India, with its net collection standing at around ₹214 crore and worldwide gross at approximately ₹255.95 crore.