Toxic fever rises: Yash’s dramatic makeover and new faces deepen the mystery, watch

From bearded Raya to clean-shaven Ticket, Yash’s makeover in Toxic sparks frenzy while new characters deepen intrigue before a major box office clash.

23 Feb 2026 19:57 IST

Toxic fever rises: Yash’s dramatic makeover and new faces deepen the mystery, watch — Yash in Toxic Photograph: (Instagram/Yash (screengrab))

The clock is ticking, and anticipation is reaching fever pitch as fans gear up to witness their favourite Rocking Star Yash step into the shoes of Raya in Toxic: A Fairytale For Grown-Ups. Ever since the teaser surfaced, speculation has been rife - will Yash surprise audiences with a dual role, or is the film set to explore a younger chapter of Raya’s journey?

Advertisment

In the middle of the mounting buzz, a behind-the-scenes clip capturing Yash’s striking shift from his rugged, bearded avatar to a sharp, clean-shaven look has swept across the internet. Adding to the growing intrigue, the makers further amped up the excitement by unveiling two new characters, expanding the film’s mysterious world.

Advertisment

From Raya to Ticket: A Visual Shift That Sparks Speculation

Ever since the glimpse of Toxic dropped, social media conversation has extended beyond its dark themes and visual scale to something more specific: Yash's transformation. While his bearded look as Raya had already drawn attention, it is his shaven appearance as Ticket that has now become the centre of discussion.

View this post on Instagram

A behind-the-scenes video circulating online shows Yash undergoing the makeover with his stylist, transitioning from the thick-bearded Raya to the sharper, clean-shaven Ticket.

View this post on Instagram

The clean-shaven appearance is notable as it marks Yash's return to a similar look after nearly a decade. Following his 2016 film Santhu Straight Forward, the actor adopted a bearded image that later became strongly associated with the KGF: Chapter 1 franchise and his larger-than-life screen persona. The shift in Toxic therefore signals a conscious visual departure and possibly a reinvention.

An Expanding Ensemble Adds Intrigue

Directed by Geetu Mohandas, the film features an ensemble cast including Kiara Advani, Nayanthara, Huma Qureshi, Tara Sutaria and Rukmini Vasanth. Interestingly, the teaser that dropped last week generated massive buzz as it featured only Yash, keeping the female leads under wraps and heightening curiosity around the narrative.

After the BTS clip stormed the internet, the makers have introduced two new characters in the movie.

Sudev Nair has been introduced as Karmadi. Nair stands amid smoke and flying shells, firing with steely resolve, vintage car headlights glowing behind him in a misty battlefield haze.

View this post on Instagram

Akshay Oberoi will be portraying Tony in the movie. In stark contrast, Oberoi looms in a dim, teal-draped room, dressed sharply in rust tones, surrounded by fallen bodies, exuding calculated menace and noir intensity.