Yash’s Toxic heads towards Rs 20 crore opening with strong advance bookings

MUMBAI: Toxic has found its first hit of adrenaline even before reaching the big screen. Yash-starrer Toxic: A Fairy Tale for Grown-Ups is recording strong advance bookings ahead of its worldwide release on August 26, with early sales pointing towards a double-digit opening and potentially a Rs 20 crore start in India.

According to Sacnilk data cited in reports, Toxic has so far generated an estimated Rs 10.94 crore gross from advance bookings for its opening day in India. When blocked seats are included, the figure rises to around Rs 18.27 crore, putting the film within striking distance of the Rs 20 crore mark.

The Kannada version is leading the advance sales, with approximately Rs 7.20 crore in gross bookings. The Hindi version has contributed around Rs 3.70 crore, while Tamil, Telugu and Malayalam screenings account for the remaining amount.

The early numbers suggest that Yash’s strongest pull remains in his home market. Karnataka has emerged as the biggest contributor to the film’s opening-day advance bookings, recording an estimated gross of Rs 7.28 crore.

The state has already generated close to Rs 5 crore in ticket sales despite the film being several days away from release, underlining the anticipation around Yash’s return to the big screen following the success of his KGF franchise.

Gujarat currently ranks second among the strongest-performing regions, with an estimated gross of around Rs 1.07 crore including blocked seats. Delhi follows with approximately Rs 93 lakh.

The film is also building momentum overseas, particularly in the US. According to data tracked by Venky Box Office, Toxic has recorded around $163,150 in advance sales for its US premieres.

The US figure comes from 260 locations and 709 shows, with around 7,545 tickets sold so far. However, the pace remains below the pre-release trajectory recorded by Yash’s previous blockbuster KGF: Chapter 2.

The comparison may not yet be definitive, as advance bookings for Toxic have not opened across all major cinema chains and international markets. Its overseas performance could therefore shift considerably as the release date approaches.

Adding another layer to the film’s positioning is its restrictive certification. In India, the Central Board of Film Certification has awarded Toxic an ‘A’ certificate, limiting theatrical admission to adult audiences.

The film has also received an 18 rating from the British Board of Film Classification in the UK. Reports indicate that the classification takes into account themes and sequences involving threats, drugs, sexual violence and self-harm, with violence, sex and injury detail receiving the highest content ratings.

Directed as an action thriller for mature audiences, Toxic has generated considerable pre-release attention around Yash’s performance and its darker tone. The strong early advance bookings suggest that the film has already secured a sizeable audience before its worldwide theatrical rollout.

With advance sales closing in on Rs 20 crore when blocked seats are counted, the next question is whether Toxic can convert the pre-release buzz into a blockbuster opening once the tickets start turning into occupied seats.