“Somebody Has To Create A Global Model For Indian Cinema”: Rocking Star Yash On The Vision Behind Toxic

Rocking Star Yash believes Indian cinema is on the verge of a major global breakthrough — but only if the industry evolves beyond conventional release models and begins thinking about worldwide theatrical audiences, not just diaspora markets. At a time when Indian films are gaining increasing visibility overseas, the actor shared in a recent interaction with Variety that the next big leap lies in connecting with mainstream international audiences seeking new cultures, stories, and cinematic experiences.

The actor-producer candidly spoke about the challenges Indian films face when trying to break into the global theatrical market. “I don’t think the challenge is the audience — it’s the system. There is a fundamental difference between how we release films and how the West releases films. Their films are finished, locked, and then marketed for six months with proper studio structures and long-term planning. Here, a lot of investment comes at the last minute and films are released very quickly because there is so much business involved,” he shared.

The actor further revealed that this thought process heavily influenced the making and release strategy of Toxic: A Fairy Tale for Grown-Ups. “That’s one of the reasons we shot Toxic in English and are taking time with the release. We are trying to understand how to reach non-diaspora global audiences theatrically, not just through OTT. People across the world want to experience different cultures and emotions, but cinema also has certain craft and aesthetic expectations globally,” he added.

Over the years, Yash has consistently positioned himself as someone thinking beyond conventional stardom, often focusing on scale, storytelling, and long-term cinematic impact. With Toxic, the actor appears to be aiming for something far more ambitious, “Somebody has to create a successful model for Indian cinema globally. Hopefully, Toxic can become one small step in that direction,” he concluded.

Directed by Geetu Mohandas, and produced by KVN Productions and Monster Mind Creations, Toxic: A Fairy Tale for Grown-Ups stars Yash alongside Nayanthara, Kiara Advani, Huma Qureshi, Rukmini Vasanth, and Tara Sutaria.