Ram Gopal Varma Criticises Toxic: A Fairytale for Grown-Ups, Praises Dhurandhar 2: The Revenge Ahead of March 19 Box Office Clash
Mumbai: Filmmaker Ram Gopal Varma has strongly criticised Toxic: A Fairytale for Grown-Ups starring Yash, calling it an “insult to intelligence,” while praising Dhurandhar and its upcoming sequel Dhurandhar 2: The Revenge, led by Ranveer Singh. His remarks come ahead of the much-anticipated box office clash between the two films on March 19, 2026.
Varma Calls It a Battle of Cinematic Ideologies
In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Varma described the upcoming clash as “Dhuroxic,” emphasising that it represents a battle between two cinematic philosophies rather than a regional rivalry. He dismissed narratives framing it as “North vs South” or “Bollywood vs Sandalwood,” stating that the key difference lies in how each film treats its audience.
Varma said Dhurandhar respects the audience’s intelligence, while Toxic assumes the audience prefers spectacle over substance. He described the clash as a symbolic confrontation between meaningful storytelling and larger-than-life cinematic spectacle.
Sharp Criticism of Toxic’s Style and Budget
Varma criticised Toxic’s action sequences, claiming they defy realism and rely heavily on exaggerated hero worship and visual effects. He also took aim at the film’s reported ₹700 crore budget, alleging that excessive spending was used to create an invincible on-screen persona rather than focusing on storytelling and character depth.
He further mocked the film’s stylised presentation, including slow-motion hero shots and large-scale visual elements, which he said were designed to mask what he described as a lack of creative substance.
Praise for Dhurandhar’s Realism and Performances
In contrast, Varma praised Dhurandhar and its sequel for prioritising realistic storytelling, grounded action, and strong performances. He highlighted the ensemble cast, including actors such as Akshaye Khanna, Sanjay Dutt, Arjun Rampal, R. Madhavan, Sara Arjun, and Rakesh Bedi, saying the film gives equal importance to all characters.
He also commended director Aditya Dhar for focusing on narrative strength and emotional depth rather than relying solely on visual spectacle.
Varma Says His Comments Reflect Concern for Indian Cinema
Varma concluded that his remarks were driven by his concern for the future of Indian cinema rather than personal preference. He described the clash between Dhurandhar 2 and Toxic as a test of whether audiences would favour thoughtful storytelling or spectacle-driven entertainment.
Both Dhurandhar 2: The Revenge and Toxic: A Fairytale for Grown-Ups are scheduled for release on March 19, 2026, setting the stage for one of the year’s most closely watched box office showdowns.