Ultimate Symbol of Women Empowerment: RGV To Geetu Mohandas After Toxic Teaser Release

Filmmaker Ram Gopal Varma's reaction to the teaser of Yash's upcoming film Toxic has triggered a fresh debate on gender, authorship and cinematic gaze, even as the 2.51-minute promo continues to dominate social media conversations.

The teaser, released today to coincide with Yash's birthday, has already made headlines for its gritty visuals, bold intimate moments and liberal use of cuss words. Now, the fact that the film is directed by acclaimed filmmaker Geetu Mohandas has added another layer to the discourse.

Ram Gopal Varma, known for his provocative takes and outspoken views, took to X to express his astonishment after watching the teaser. In his post, Varma hailed Mohandas as a symbol of women empowerment, saying he was unable to believe that the film had been shot by a woman director. "After seeing the @TheNameIsYash starring trailer of #Toxic I have no doubt that @GeethuMohandas_is the ultimate symbol of Women Empowerment. No male director is man enough in comparison to this woman. I still can't believe she shot this," Varma wrote, along with a shocked emoji.

His remarks quickly went viral, drawing mixed reactions from fans and cinephiles alike. While some echoed Varma's admiration, others questioned the tone and implications of his praise. Several viewers admitted they were surprised upon learning that Toxic was directed by Mohandas, a filmmaker best known for her socially conscious and critically acclaimed work.

Social media reactions reflected this surprise, with one fan sarcastically commenting, "Directed by Geetu Mohandas, a woman? So we got female Vanga now," drawing a controversial comparison with director Sandeep Reddy Vanga, whose films have often been criticised for glorifying toxic masculinity.

However, not all reactions were celebratory. A section of viewers expressed disappointment, arguing that the teaser seemed to contradict Mohandas's long-standing public positions on gender representation in cinema. One detailed post pointed out that Mohandas has been a prominent voice within the Women in Cinema Collective (WCC), where she has consistently spoken out against sexism, objectification and misogyny in films. The user noted that she had even stepped away from powerful industry bodies in solidarity with survivors of abuse.

"But today's Toxic teaser?" the post continued. "It opens with a full-on intimate car scene-moans, a shaking vehicle, the works-just to set up Yash's grand entry. Glamorous women in revealing outfits, violence mixed with sensuality... it feels like the very male-gaze tropes she once called out. How do we square this? Genuine feminism shouldn't come with exceptions when the budget gets bigger. Disappointing."

The teaser itself leaves little to the imagination. Packed with Yash's larger-than-life introduction, stylised violence, explicit language and bold intimate visuals, Toxic clearly aims for a dark, edgy and international tone. While fans of the star have largely praised the promo for its scale and swagger, the intense reactions underline how expectations change when a filmmaker's ideological stance is part of their public identity.

As the debate continues, Toxic finds itself at the centre of a larger conversation about whether a woman director delivering a gritty, male-driven action spectacle is a sign of creative freedom-or a contradiction of earlier ideals. With the film still months away from release and little known about its story, the teaser has already succeeded in one respect: it has ensured that Toxic will be closely scrutinised long before it reaches theatres.