Key Points
Toxic earned Rs 101.10 crore net on Day 1, one of India's biggest openers.
Collections crashed 84% to Rs 16.48 crore net on Day 2 as mixed reviews and trolls spread.
Dhurandhar 2 earned nearly five times more than Toxic on Day 2 despite weaker opening.
Film's 194-minute runtime and narrative disconnect between director and actor drew criticism.
Yash’s Toxic: A Fairy Tale for Grown Ups smashed box office records on August 26 with Rs 101.10 crore net in India, making it one of the year’s biggest openers. The film’s aggressive marketing and the chartbuster song Tabaahi drove advance bookings. Yet the momentum collapsed on Day 2, when collections fell to Rs 16.48 crore net. Mixed reviews and social media trolls have already begun weighing on the film’s long-term prospects.
Record-breaking opening day despite negative reviews
Toxic collected Rs 101.10 crore net on Day 1 and Rs 140.20 crore gross across India, surpassing expectations of Rs 40-45 crore. The film occupied over 90% of screens and shows nationwide. Despite sex and violence being core themes, audiences in A, B and C centres showed strong demand. Trade analyst Navneet Mundhra praised Yash’s performance, calling him “the lifeblood of this enterprise.” However, most critics called the film “style over substance” and “an ambitious misfire.”
Sharp 84% drop on Day 2 signals trouble ahead
Collections plummeted to Rs 16.48 crore net on Day 2, with overall occupancy falling to 23.9% across 19,413 shows. Ranveer Singh’s Dhurandhar 2: The Revenge earned Rs 80.72 crore net on its second day, nearly five times more than Toxic. Trade analyst Taran Adarsh noted the film rides “primarily on Yash’s immense star power” but warned it would “need to sustain momentum once initial curiosity and fan frenzy settle down.” Mixed audience reactions and social media memes have already begun spreading.
Why the release strategy changed
Toxic’s release was moved ahead from March to avoid clashing with Dhurandhar: The Revenge. Once the August 26 date was locked, makers launched a super aggressive promotional campaign. The song Tabaahi with Kiara Advani became a chartbuster, pushing curiosity higher. Advance bookings ranked second only to Dhurandhar: The Revenge this year, signalling strong pre-release confidence.
Cast performances and critical reception
Kiara Advani drew praise for her emotional moments as circus performer Nadia, while Nayanthara excelled in her role as Ganga. Tara Sutaria had limited screen time, and Rukmini Vasanth was described as wasted despite her calibre. The film’s 194-minute runtime explores gangster Raya’s opium empire in Portuguese-ruled Goa and his complicated relationships with women. Director Geetu Mohandas and Yash showed polar-opposite sensibilities, resulting in narrative disconnects that critics flagged.
Final Thoughts
Toxic’s record opening proved Yash’s star power can drive massive first-day numbers, but Day 2’s 84% collapse signals audience disappointment may limit the film’s long-term run. With mixed reviews and social backlash already spreading, the extended five-day weekend will determine whether the film can recover or become a cautionary tale of style over substance.
FAQs
Toxic collected Rs 101.10 crore net in India on Day 1, making it one of the year’s biggest openers. Gross collections reached Rs 140.20 crore across India.
Collections fell 84% to Rs 16.48 crore net on Day 2. Mixed reviews, social media trolls, and audience disappointment with the film’s narrative and execution weighed on momentum.
Dhurandhar 2 earned Rs 80.72 crore net on Day 2, nearly five times more than Toxic’s Rs 16.48 crore. Despite Toxic’s stronger opening, it lost far more ground on the second day.
Toxic was moved from March to August 26 to avoid clashing with Dhurandhar. The makers secured over 90% of screens and shows nationwide and ran an aggressive promotional campaign.
Disclaimer:
The content shared by Meyka AI PTY LTD is solely for research and informational purposes. Meyka is not a financial advisory service, and the information provided should not be considered investment or trading advice.
About Author

Danny Kontos
Co FounderDanny Kontos has been a stock investor since 2007 and co-founded Meyka in 2023. He keeps a small, focused portfolio and only moves when the numbers are hard to argue with. He has waited years on a single position before. Before Meyka, he ran a web hosting company and a mortgage lending platform, so he knows what a well-run business actually looks like under the hood. This article did not come from a news cycle. It came from someone who has been watching this space for a long time.
What brings you to Meyka?
Pick what interests you most and we will get you started.
I'm here to read news
Find more articles like this one
I'm here to research stocks
Ask Meyka Analyst about any stock
I'm here to track my Portfolio
Get daily updates and alerts (coming March 2026)