Toxic: A fairy tale for grown-ups, the latest movie of Kannada star Yash, best known for playing Rocky Bhai in the KGF 1 and 2, has run into trouble with the Karnataka forest department after its makers were accused of felling trees in Bengaluru for film-set construction without the proper nod.
“Hundreds of trees have been removed without permission, and we are seeking strict legal repercussions,” Karnataka forest minister Eshwar Khandre said. The minister said that the forest land, which amounts to 599 acres, was allegedly transferred in the 1960s to Hindustan Machine Tools (HMT) without any de-notification.
The forest minister added that disciplinary action would be taken against officers who gave permission to fell trees inside the reserve forest, and cases would be registered against the persons responsible for cutting the trees.
Toxic, directed by Geethu Mohandas, is scheduled to release on April 10, 2025. After the immense success of the bipartite KGF series, fans were excited about the return of the 'Rocking Star.'
Meanwhile, during the pre-production days of Toxic, KVN Productions and Monster Mind Creations claimed that the crew insisted on shooting the movie locally. Lack of facilities was shown as the reason for production units taking top-tier Kannada movies outside Karnataka but Yash wanted to break that trend. Toxic intended to become a project that gave an opportunity to Karnataka's local talent and locations a shot, they reportedly said.
"Due to the lack of optimal facilities, all our big films end up being shot outside the state. Yash has long expressed that concern, and to change that, we at KVN Productions and Monster Mind Creations are kickstarting the shooting of ‘Toxic’ in Karnataka. We have already erected massive sets, creating many job opportunities and avenues for people at ground level, technicians and budding talent in the state. We are working towards making a film of global potential," the producers said in a statement.
The makers of Toxic had also talked about location-hunting. Yash and KVN took the initiative to make the movie Karnataka-based, Manorama Online quoted them as saying in April this year.
"As producers, we had options from various locations in India and abroad. The film has onboard actors and technicians from multiple industries, even international talent, and setting up a base there would have been more economical. However, Yash and KVN took the initiative to establish ‘Toxic’ HQ in Karnataka before we shoot parts of the film in locations elsewhere, and showcase the tremendous potential of our people," the statement said.
"We have already erected massive sets, creating many job opportunities and avenues for people at ground level, technicians and budding talent in the state," they reportedly added.