When Yash said 'won’t do scenes I can’t watch with my parents'; old interview goes viral amid 'Toxic' teaser controversy

Long before the glare of the spotlight became unbearably bright and the debates became heated, Yash was known to pick his words as carefully as he picked up his roles. As a fresh debate on the actor's film 'Toxic: A Fairytale for Grown-Ups' creates a stir on the internet, an old video of the actor has taken everyone by storm and it’s giving fans a trip down memory lane. A throwback video from a past TV stint has emerged at a time when there’s increased questioning of Yash’s decisions and the boundaries on creative expression.

Yash's old interview gains new attention

This video is of Yash’s interview from Weekend with Ramesh where he spoke to host Ramesh Aravind about his take on the films. In this interview, he said the following line, which has made its rounds on the internet: “I will not shoot any movie scenes which I will be uncomfortable watching with my parents.” This has resurfaced as a reaction to Toxic’s teaser, where people are comparing the change in Yash’s statements and the overt stylisation of the scenes. This resurfaced video has provided a new perspective in the discussion happening with people talking about how an artist’s stance can change with time and to the context of the film.

Controversy surrounds 'Toxic' teaser over bold scenes

The resurfacing of the interview comes at a time when controversy is surrounding the teaser of 'Toxic' directed by Geetu Mohandas and co-written by her and production designer Yash. Released on the actor’s 40th birthday, the teaser attracted flak for its explicit content involving Yash’s character Ray. A complaint has been filed with the Central Board of Film Certification by social activist Dinesh Kallahalli for the “obscene” stills that he claims should not be circulated openly, especially on social media platforms where children can have access. In a parallel development, the women’s wing of a political party in Karnataka has also approached the State Women’s Commission, asking for action against “objectionable” content.

CBFC clarifies jurisdiction

Though the CBFC has stated that online trailers are not in their realm, the controversy does not seem to die down. Interestingly enough, Yash’s words from the past have also been brought into the fray, reminding the audience of days gone by.