Kiara Advani Opens Up About Toxic’s Box Office Failure and Backlash Over Intimate Scenes With Yash

Actor Kiara Advani has opened up about the disappointing box office performance of director Geetu Mohandas’ crime thriller Toxic, revealing that the film’s failure and the criticism surrounding it left her heartbroken during its opening weekend.

Despite generating considerable anticipation ahead of its release, the Yash-starrer received largely negative reviews and failed to meet commercial expectations. The film also faced significant online backlash, with critics questioning its portrayal of hypermasculinity and alleged glorification of misogyny.

Kiara, who played one of the female leads in the film, recently addressed the controversy and the criticism directed at both the movie and her performance during an appearance on the fifth episode of Koffee With Karan Season 9, where she appeared alongside her husband, actor Sidharth Malhotra.

Asked about her reaction to the film’s disappointing performance despite favourable reviews for her acting, Kiara admitted that the initial response was difficult to process.

“On Day 1, it was heartbreaking,” she said.

Kiara Says Toxic’s Failure Was Unexpected

Reflecting on the film’s reception, Kiara said nobody associated with the project had anticipated such a negative response, particularly after its opening.

“As a team, I don’t think any of us saw it coming, when the movie misfired despite it opening to what it did. It was heartbreaking, especially during the opening weekend. I was very low,” the actor said.

However, she added that the appreciation she received for stepping outside her comfort zone helped her look at the experience differently.

Kiara believes her portrayal of Nadia in Toxic could become a defining moment in her acting career, despite the film’s commercial setback.

She said the positive feedback about her performance gave her some reassurance amid the criticism and disappointment surrounding the project.

Kiara Addresses Backlash Over Intimate Scenes With Yash

The conversation also turned to the controversy surrounding Kiara’s intimate scenes with Yash in the film.

Host Karan Johar pointed out that the scenes had generated considerable discussion online, with some social media users even questioning how Sidharth Malhotra would react to his wife’s on-screen intimacy with another actor.

Kiara, however, made it clear that Sidharth was not bothered by the scenes and had never raised the issue with her.

“I fed off his energy because he had not cared about it. He never even brought it up. We have never even spoken about this. It didn’t affect him, nor was he bothered about it,” she explained.

The actor also said that criticism of female performers over intimate scenes was not new to the film industry. Referring to the reactions she witnessed online, she said several prominent actresses had faced similar scrutiny over the years.

She cited Aishwarya Rai as one example and pointed to what she described as the hypocrisy surrounding the public’s reaction to such performances.

Kiara added that she did not feel the need to justify her decision to perform the scenes or respond to every criticism directed at her.

Toxic’s Box Office Performance

Toxic, which also features Nayanthara, Huma Qureshi, Tara Sutaria and Rukmini Vasanth in key roles, was reportedly made on a massive budget of Rs 600 crore.

However, according to industry tracker Sacnilk, the film managed to collect only Rs 342.26 crore worldwide, falling significantly short of its reported production budget.

The film’s commercial performance, combined with negative reviews and criticism of its themes, made it a major disappointment despite the considerable expectations surrounding Yash’s project.

Geetu Mohandas directed the crime thriller, which attracted attention for its dark narrative, action sequences and portrayal of power and masculinity.

Kiara and Sidharth Make First Joint Appearance on Koffee With Karan

The episode also marked the first time Kiara and Sidharth appeared together on Koffee With Karan.

Sidharth made his debut on the popular celebrity chat show in 2013 during its fourth season. He appeared alongside his Student of the Year co-stars Alia Bhatt and Varun Dhawan, having made his Bollywood debut with the 2012 film directed by Karan Johar.

Over subsequent seasons, Sidharth returned to the show with several celebrity guests, including Jacqueline Fernandez, Aditya Roy Kapur, Vicky Kaushal and Varun Dhawan.

Kiara, meanwhile, made her debut on the show in 2022 during Season 7, appearing alongside her Kabir Singh co-star Shahid Kapoor. She later returned for Season 8 with Vicky Kaushal.

Their joint appearance offered viewers a glimpse into their relationship while also allowing Kiara to address the professional challenges and public scrutiny surrounding one of her most controversial film projects.

Despite the disappointment surrounding Toxic, Kiara’s comments suggest that she views the experience as an important part of her career, particularly because it pushed her beyond her usual on-screen comfort zone.