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The Karnataka State Women’s Commission (KSWC) on Monday wrote to the CBFC, seeking “appropriate action” after the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) lodged a complaint against the teaser of the film Toxic, starring Yash, alleging obscene content. Earlier in the day, leaders of the AAP women’s wing met KSWC officials and submitted a formal complaint urging action against the teaser.

In her petition, AAP state secretary Usha Mohan claimed that the teaser contained “obscene and explicit content” that posed a threat to the social well-being of women and children. She stated that the visuals, released publicly without any age-related warnings, “degrade the dignity of women and insult Kannada culture.” The party urged the commission to intervene immediately, requesting that the teaser be banned and removed from all social media platforms.

The commission’s secretary, in a letter to the CBFC, asked for verification of the complaint as per rules and for an action-taken report to be submitted. The petition stressed that the issue must be treated seriously to protect the cultural and moral values of the state.

The teaser for Toxic: A Fairytale for Grown-Ups was released on January 8, coinciding with Yash’s 40th birthday, introducing his character “Raya.” Directed by Geetu Mohandas, the film marks Yash’s first project since the blockbuster KGF: Chapter 2 (2022). Shot simultaneously in Kannada and English, the film also has dubbed versions planned in Hindi, Telugu, Tamil, Malayalam, and other languages.

Following the teaser’s release, a section of social media users criticized it for allegedly “objectifying women,” raising questions about the director in light of her past statements on such portrayals. However, another segment of audiences defended the teaser and the film’s creative team. Produced by KVN Productions, Toxic also stars Nayanthara, Huma Qureshi, Kiara Advani, and Rukmini Vasanth in pivotal roles, and is scheduled for release on March 19.