Mumbai, August 21 - Kannada superstar Yash's action drama Toxic: A Fairy Tale For Grown-Ups is showing solid momentum in the Hindi market ahead of its August 26 theatrical release. The Geetu Mohandas directorial has started its advance booking on a strong note, indicating that the film could surprise on the upside when it opens next week.
The current response has given the Hindi version a boost over its initial trade expectations. Toxic was earlier projected to open in the 20 crore net range in Hindi, but the early booking trend suggests that the film is set to go beyond that mark. With several days still remaining before release, the expectation is that the momentum could build further as the release date approaches.
A key advantage for Toxic is the lack of major direct competition from Hindi releases. The film will also benefit from Yash's strong pan-India following, particularly after the blockbuster success of the KGF franchise. The trailer has further helped create curiosity around the actor's new avatar, with the film promising a darker and more unconventional action spectacle.
Toxic was always expected to do well in Hindi, but the initial response in pre-sales has stunned the trend. The movie is putting on a show way better than expected, and if the momentum continues, it can open in the 30 crores range or more, which will be a strong start. The film is also arriving with considerable scale, targeting a wide worldwide theatrical release.
The combination of Yash's star power, the critical response to the promotional material and a relatively open release window gives Toxic an opportunity to outperform conservative trade projections in the Hindi belt. For now, the focus will be on how the momentum develops over the weekend and through the final few days before release. If the current trend sustains and audience interest translates into strong walk-ins, Toxic could emerge as one of the bigger Hindi openings for a dubbed South Indian film and comfortably beat its initial industry projection.
Sandalwood
