Yash’s much-awaited film Toxic: A Fairy Tale for Grown-Ups has cleared the censor process, but not without several changes. According to a new report by Bollywood Hungama, the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) asked the makers to make multiple modifications to the film’s original Kannada version before granting it an ‘A’ certificate.
The changes reportedly involve intimate scenes, violent visuals, drug references and certain dialogues. The CBFC also asked the makers to add mandatory disclaimers related to the nature of the story, smoking and drugs.
The Kannada version received certification on August 13, with a reported runtime of 194 minutes and 12 seconds, meaning the film runs for more than three hours.
Intimate Scenes Reduced in Seven Places
One of the biggest changes reportedly concerns the film’s intimate sequences.
According to the report, the CBFC asked the makers to reduce the duration of physical intimacy scenes by 30% at seven different places. Another scene featuring Yash’s character Raaya with a woman on a bed was reportedly reduced by 50%.
Together with changes to violent material, these modifications reportedly reduced around 33 seconds of violent and sexual content from the film.
The cuts do not mean that the film has been completely stripped of its mature content. Toxic has still received an ‘A’ certificate, meaning it is intended for adult audiences.
Explicit Dialogue Also Muted
The CBFC’s changes were not limited to visuals.
According to Bollywood Hungama’s report, the word “fking”** was asked to be replaced at 16 different places in the film. Another abusive term was reportedly replaced in two places in the subtitles.
An explicit sentence containing the phrase “You want to fk”** was also muted.
These changes indicate that the board scrutinised both the film’s visual content and its language before granting certification.
Toxic CBFC Changes at a Glance
| Change | Reported CBFC Action |
|---|---|
| Certificate | A |
| Intimate scenes | Reduced by 30% at 7 places |
| Bed scene | Reduced by 50% |
| Violent and sexual content | Around 33 seconds reduced |
| Explicit word | “F**king” replaced at 16 places |
| Abusive term | Replaced at 2 places in subtitles |
| Explicit dialogue | Muted |
| Child murder shot | Reduced |
| Electric saw murder scene | Replaced with an appropriate shot |
| Drug-related scene | Smoking ganja scene replaced |
| Christian Father scene | Blood-soaked visual reduced |
| Holy Cross | Removed from one sequence |
| Final certificate | A certificate |
Violent Scenes Also Modified
Toxic is being presented as a dark gangster drama, so violence is an important part of its world. However, some violent visuals also reportedly underwent changes.
The report states that a shot involving a child committing murder was reduced, while a piston-pumping sequence was also shortened. A murder scene involving an electric saw was reportedly replaced with another shot considered appropriate by the CBFC.
A scene involving a character smoking ganja was also replaced.
These changes come as the film prepares for a theatrical release aimed at adult audiences.
Religious Imagery Was Also Altered
Another reported change involves a scene featuring Christian religious imagery.
The CBFC asked the makers to reduce a scene showing a Christian Father drenched in blood. In another sequence, the Holy Cross was reportedly removed when assassins enter dressed as nuns.
The modifications are notable because Toxic has previously attracted attention over certain visual elements in its promotional material.
Disclaimers Added to the Film
Apart from cuts and replacements, the makers were also asked to include disclaimers.
A voiceover disclaimer explaining the nature of the story was added. Anti-smoking and anti-drug caution messages were also incorporated into the film.
Such warnings are part of the certification process when a film contains scenes involving smoking, drugs or other potentially sensitive material.
Toxic Runtime Crosses Three Hours
Even after the changes, the film remains a lengthy theatrical experience.
The certified Kannada version reportedly has a runtime of 194 minutes and 12 seconds, which works out to approximately 3 hours, 14 minutes and 12 seconds.
This makes Toxic one of the longer mainstream Indian releases, particularly for a film built around gangster drama, action and mature themes.
Dubbed Versions Also Carry the Changes
There was some speculation that the dubbed versions of Toxic would avoid the cuts made to the original Kannada version.
However, Bollywood Hungama reports that this is not exactly the case.
According to a source quoted by the publication, the makers first got the original Kannada version certified and then incorporated the CBFC-suggested visual changes into the Hindi, Tamil, Telugu and Malayalam versions before submitting those dubbed versions for certification.
As a result, the separate cut lists for the dubbed versions may not necessarily mention all these changes individually.
Toxic Still Gets an ‘A’ Certificate
Despite the modifications, the CBFC has cleared Toxic with an ‘A’ certificate.
Earlier reports had indicated that the Kannada version received the certificate with only limited changes, including modifications to certain phrases and mandatory warnings.
The latest detailed report, however, provides a much broader picture of the changes made to the final version.
The ‘A’ certification means audiences will have to meet the applicable age requirement to watch the film in theatres.
Yash’s Darkest Avatar Yet?
Toxic has generated considerable curiosity because of Yash’s transformation into Raaya, a darker gangster character.
Directed by Geetu Mohandas, the film features Yash alongside Kiara Advani, Nayanthara, Huma Qureshi, Tara Sutaria and Rukmini Vasanth. The film has been promoted as a mature gangster story with violence, action and morally complex characters.
The CBFC changes now provide another indication of the mature tone that audiences can expect.
The Censor Cuts Add to the Pre-Release Buzz
With Toxic already generating massive interest because of Yash’s return to the big screen, the details of the CBFC changes are likely to create further discussion among fans.
The fact that intimate scenes were shortened, explicit language was muted and several violent visuals were modified gives audiences a better idea of the film’s original tone.
At the same time, the final runtime remains above three hours and the film continues to carry an ‘A’ certificate.
As Toxic moves closer to its theatrical release, the focus will now shift from the censor process to audience reaction. Whether the heavily discussed mature content becomes one of the film’s strengths or simply another talking point will be known once viewers finally see the complete theatrical version.
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