Entertainment
Yash’s ‘Toxic’ Crosses ₹32 Crore in Advance Bookings With 6 Lakh Tickets Sold — But KGF 2 Still Stays Ahead…
Just two days before its August 26 release, Yash’s Toxic has recorded ₹32.52 crore in advance bookings including blocked seats, with more than 6.4 lakh tickets sold across India.
New Delhi: The wait for Yash’s much-anticipated Toxic: A Fairy Tale for Grown-Ups is almost over, and the film is already making noise at the box office — even before its first theatrical show.
With just two days left before its August 26 release, Toxic: A Fairy Tale for Grown-Ups has reportedly collected ₹32.52 crore in advance bookings, including blocked seats, with more than 6.4 lakh tickets sold across India. Without blocked seats, the opening-day advance stands at around ₹24.27 crore, according to figures reported by The Week.
The numbers put Toxic among the biggest advance-booking performers of 2026. The film has already moved ahead of Jana Nayagan in opening-day advance bookings and currently sits behind Dhurandhar 2 among Indian films released or scheduled for release this year.
But there is one benchmark that continues to loom large — Yash’s own KGF: Chapter 2.
Toxic is strong, but KGF 2 remains the bigger benchmark
Toxic may be enjoying a powerful pre-release response, but its current advance-booking pace is still below the extraordinary numbers achieved by KGF: Chapter 2.
The 2022 blockbuster recorded more than ₹80 crore in final Day 1 advance bookings across India, including around ₹40 crore from its Hindi version alone, according to The Week.
That comparison is particularly significant because Toxic marks Yash’s first theatrical release after the phenomenal success of KGF: Chapter 2. The actor has been away from the big screen for around four years, making his return one of the biggest talking points in Indian cinema.
Karnataka leads the advance-booking race
As expected, Karnataka remains the strongest domestic market for Toxic.
The film has generated more than ₹10.69 crore in advance sales from Karnataka, with more than 1,740 shows contributing to the figure.
The Hindi and Kannada versions are driving a significant portion of the pre-sales.
The Hindi 2D version has reportedly collected around ₹11.06 crore from 3.33 lakh tickets, while the Kannada version has earned approximately ₹10.99 crore from 2.64 lakh tickets. The Telugu, Tamil and Malayalam versions together have also crossed the 42,000-ticket mark.
This indicates that the film is not relying solely on Yash’s traditional Kannada fan base. The advance numbers suggest considerable curiosity in Hindi-speaking markets as well.
Can Toxic reach ₹100 crore in advance bookings?
That is where things become interesting.
With ₹32.52 crore already recorded including blocked seats, Toxic would need almost another ₹67.5 crore in advance bookings to touch ₹100 crore before release.
On the current trajectory, that appears difficult.
However, the final 48 hours can be crucial for a major star-driven release. A sharp jump in bookings on August 24 and 25, particularly in Karnataka and the Hindi market, could significantly alter the final figure.
The film is expected to open across more than 12,000 screens worldwide, underlining the enormous scale of its theatrical release.
Geetu Mohandas brings a different flavour to Yash’s comeback
Toxic is directed by Geetu Mohandas, a filmmaker known for her distinctive storytelling approach.
The film is being positioned as a gangster drama with a darker and more mature tone. Unlike the KGF franchise, Toxic is not a sequel and gives Yash a completely new world and character to explore.
The cast includes Kiara Advani, Nayanthara, Huma Qureshi, Tara Sutaria, Rukmini Vasanth, Akshay Oberoi and Sudev Nair.
The film is scheduled to release in Kannada, Hindi, Tamil, Telugu and Malayalam, while the English version has a separate international distribution arrangement with Lionsgate.
An adults-only Yash film
Another major talking point surrounding Toxic is its certification.
The film has received an A certificate from the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) without cuts. The reported runtime is around three hours and 12 minutes.
Yash has also made it clear that the movie is not intended for children, pointing towards its mature themes, violence and adult-oriented storytelling.
That adult positioning could make Toxic quite different from the family-friendly appeal associated with many mainstream Indian blockbusters.
The real test begins on August 26
For now, the advance-booking numbers are undoubtedly encouraging.
More than six lakh tickets sold, ₹32.52 crore in reported advances including blocked seats, a strong Karnataka response and growing Hindi-market interest have given Toxic a solid platform before release.
But comparisons with KGF: Chapter 2 show just how high the expectations surrounding Yash have become.
The question is no longer whether Toxic will open strongly. The bigger question is how strongly it can open — and whether Yash’s latest film can eventually create a box-office benchmark of its own.
With the final advance-booking window now underway, the next two days could tell us just how big the Toxic wave really is.
