The makers of Yash’s much-anticipated ‘Toxic – A Fairy Tale for Adults’ have released the first look at Huma Qureshi as Elizabeth, revealing a character that blends old world charm with disturbing Gothic menace.
The newly released image captures Qureshi with a cemetery in the background, and her character is placed next to a classic black automobile. Her outfit features a striking black gown with exposed shoulders and a dramatic sleeve design, giving her character a sophisticated look that hides a dark undertone. The funerary location and subdued color palette suggest a figure influenced by calm and sophistication rather than overt aggression.
Qureshi has built a formidable reputation across films and streaming platforms through his acclaimed performances in Anurag Kashyap’s crime drama Gangs of Wasseypur, black comedy Deed Ishqiyah, and revenge thriller Badlapur. Her work in streaming series includes the dystopian Netflix drama “Leila” and the Filmfare OTT Award-winning SonyLIV political thriller “Maharani.” She recently appeared in season 3 of the Netflix series ‘Delhi Crime’ and also starred in Vikas Ranjan Mishra’s film ‘Bhayaan’ which bowed at the Toronto Film Festival.
Yash is a Kannada-speaking film actor who rose to pan-India stardom with the series ‘KGF’ and became one of the most popular stars in Indian cinema. Known for his portrayal of Rocky Bhai in KGF: Chapter 1 (2018) and KGF: Chapter 2 (2022), Yash’s transformation into a larger-than-life action hero broke the language barrier and propelled the film to unprecedented box office success. The second film in the series became the fifth highest grossing film in Indian film history. While the ‘KGF’ series cemented his star power, Yash’s early career in Kannada films showed his versatility with notable performances in projects like ‘Mr & Mrs Ramachari’ (2014) and ‘Google’ (2013).
‘Toxic’ is helmed by festival circuit favorite Geethu Mohandas (‘Mooson’). This ambitious project represents a turning point for Kannada cinema, which is steadily gaining international attention after the ‘KGF’ phenomenon. Written by Yash and Mohandas, Toxic breaks new ground as the first major Indian film to be conceived, written and shot simultaneously in both Kannada and English, with dubbed versions in Hindi, Telugu, Tamil, Malayalam and other languages also planned.
Director Geethu Mohandas said, “This role was probably the most difficult to cast.” “This character required a performer with high octane and an undeniable presence. From the moment Huma entered my frame, I saw that she possessed something unusual. She possessed a sophistication and intensity that immediately brought the character of Elizabeth to life for me. Huma is an actor who questions, explores and challenges the artistic interpretation of her roles, and her dialogue has become an integral part of our creative journey. She has always been known as a force of talent, but this performance marks a turning point as she emerges with an undeniably commanding new presence on celluloid. ”
The first look of Nadia played by Kiara Advani was released recently.
The production brought together a renowned technical staff including Indian National Film Award-winning cinematographer Rajeev Ravi, composer Ravi Basroor, editor Ujjwal Kulkarni and production designer TP Abid. The action scenes were choreographed by Hollywood’s J.J. Perry, known for “John Wick,” and Indian National Film Award-winning duo Anbarib and Kecak Kampakdee.
Produced by Venkat K. Narayana and Yash through KVN Productions and Monster Mind Creations, Toxic – A Fairy Tale for Adults is scheduled to hit theaters on March 19, 2026, taking advantage of the long holiday weekend that includes Eid, Ugadi and Gudi Padwa celebrations.
