March 19 is shaping up to be a high-stakes box office clash, with Dhurandhar: The Revenge and Toxic: A Fairytale for Grown-Ups both locked in for theatrical release.
The date falls during the Eid and Gudi Padwa/Ugadi holiday window, making it especially lucrative. While Dacoit was earlier slated for the same day and later postponed, speculation continues around whether Toxic will move. Latest reports suggest it won’t.
According to Variety India, Yash has no plans to shift Toxic. The actor is said to be confident about the film’s long-term theatrical run rather than relying only on opening-weekend numbers.
Sources point out that Toxic’s release date was announced back in December 2023, and fans have been waiting for Yash’s return after the massive success of the KGF franchise. Moving the date now, the report says, could disappoint them.
However, the report also notes friction between the Toxic team and the makers of Dhurandhar 2, headlined by Ranveer Singh. The issue reportedly stems from a lack of prior communication.
“Toxic announced its date earlier. If Dhurandhar 2 was planning the same Eid release, a courtesy call would have helped,” a source said, adding that the team feels the Hindi film industry lacks the communication culture common in southern industries.
Dhurandhar: The Revenge, directed by Aditya Dhar, is said to enjoy stronger buzz in the Hindi belt following the success of its first instalment. Meanwhile, Yash brings formidable pan-India pull after KGF: Chapter 1 and KGF: Chapter 2.
Written by Yash and Geetu Mohandas and directed by Mohandas, Toxic has been shot simultaneously in Kannada and English, with dubbed versions planned in Hindi, Telugu, Tamil, Malayalam and more; highlighting its global ambitions.
The film also boasts a strong technical crew: cinematography by National Award winner Rajeev Ravi, music by Ravi Basrur, editing by Ujwal Kulkarni, production design by TP Abid, and large-scale action choreographed by Hollywood stunt director JJ Perry, alongside National Award-winning duo Anbariv and Kecha Khamphakdee.
For now, all signs point to Toxic holding firm on March 19; setting the stage for a major festive showdown.